U-Space | Blueprint SESAR

In this document there is a wide explanation about the U-Space concept.  Summarizing, U-space is a set of new services and specific procedures designed to support safe, efficient and secure access to airspace for large numbers of drones.

According to this document, the delivery of U-space adopts the following key principles:

• To ensure the safety of all airspace users.
• To provide a system that can respond to while managing the interface with manned aviation.
• To enable high-density operations with multiple automated drones.
• To guarantee equitable and fair access to airspace for all users.
• To enable competitive and cost-effective service provision.
• To minimise deployment and operating costs.
• To accelerate deployment by adopting new technologies and standards.
• To follow a risk-based and performance-driven approach when setting up appropriate requirements for safety, security (including cyber-security) and resilience (including failure mode management).

Figure 1: SESAR U-Space roadmap (Source: SESAR’s oficial site: http://www.sesarju.eu)

What is U-space?

U-space is a set of new services and specific procedures designed to support safe, efficient and secure access to airspace for large numbers of drones. These services rely on a high level of digitalisation and automation of functions, whether they are on board the drone itself, or are part of the ground-based environment. U-space provides an enabling framework to support routine drone operations, as well as a clear and effective interface to manned aviation, ATM/ANS4 service providers and authorities.