Tokyo, February 21, 2025 –Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, has successfully completed a demonstration in collaboration with Skypuzzler ApS (“Skypuzzler”), a Danish developer of drone collision avoidance systems. This initiative has resulted in a breakthrough solution for automated tactical drone deconfliction, showcasing safe and efficient real-time flight adjustments for multiple drones operating beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS).
This demonstration was conducted as part of the “CONDUCT project” (1), an initiative within the Eurostars program (2) under the Eureka Network. By integrating Unifly’s UTM with Skypuzzler’s intelligent Digital Air Traffic Control (iDATC) (3), the project successfully showcased the safe BVLOS operation of multiple drones within shared airspace, enhancing real-time collision avoidance at both strategic and tactical levels. Looking ahead, Terra Drone and Unifly will continue to leverage the techniques and insights gained from this project to further enhance safe and efficient BVLOS drone operations in increasingly congested airspace, promoting collision-free drone operations as drone adoption accelerates.
Project Background and Objectives
The project is supported by the European Union (EU) and other organizations as part of the Eurostars program, aiming to advance drone technologies toward commercialization. This demonstration was conducted to establish an operational environment where multiple drones can safely perform BVLOS drone flights.
In March 2024, Unifly and Skypuzzler signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance BVLOS drone operations in Europe (4). Under this agreement, the companies integrated Unifly’s UTM with Skypuzzler’s iDATC technology to conduct the demonstration successfully.
Demonstration Overview
As drone adoption increases, long-term congestion in low-altitude airspace is expected. Unifly’s UTM system manages airspace by coordinating flight routes based on pre-registered flight plans, preventing drone collisions while supporting the operation to prevent collisions with manned aircraft and other drones during flight. In this demonstration, Unifly enhanced the interoperability function within its UTM integration and strengthened its proximity alert functions for drones, ensuring smoother and more reliable communication between the UTM and drones.
Skypuzzler’s iDATC technology functioned as an extended module of the UTM, autonomously adjusting flight paths, speed, and altitude in real-time to detect and avoid potential drone collisions.
By integrating Unifly’s UTM with Skypuzzler’s iDATC technology, the demonstration successfully improved both strategic and tactical collision avoidance measures. This seamless collision prevention system successfully showcased the safety and flexibility of drone operations across larger areas.
Prospects
Optimized drone traffic management is expected to contribute to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Unifly remains committed to driving technological innovation and fostering further growth in the drone industry.
Andres Van Swalm, CEO and Co-Founder of Unifly stated: “The CONDUCT project marks a major step forward for BVLOS autonomous drone flights. By integrating Skypuzzler’s Digital Air Traffic Control with Unifly’s UTM, we have enhanced real-time deconfliction and optimized the integration between drones and the Unifly UTM system, ensuring seamless and scalable operations. Our collaboration with Skypuzzler has been invaluable, and we look forward to continuing our efforts together to shape and accelerate the future of autonomous drone operations.”
Jesper Skou, CEO and Co-Founder of Skypuzzler stated: “This project showcases Skypuzzler’s commitment to shaping the future of automated aviation. Partnering with Unifly has been meaningful, as the combination of our cutting-edge Digital Air Traffic Control solution and Unifly’s renowned UTM technology not only transforms the drone and UTM industries but also sets a new standard for what is possible in the field. We are grateful for this successful collaboration and look forward to continuing our efforts with Unifly.
Editor’s Note
1 An acronym for “sCaling the drOne iNdustry through enhanceD Unmanned traffiC managemenT”, which refers to an initiative focused on expanding the drone industry through advanced UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) solutions.
2 A research and development support program that involves participation from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research institutions across Europe and North America. The program facilitates collaborative technology development among multiple companies and supports projects aimed at commercialization.
3 iDATC (Digital Air Traffic Control): The product name of Skypuzzler’s digital air traffic control system.
4 https://terra-drone.net/global/2024/03/19/terra-drones-group-company-unifly-and-skypuzzler-aps-sign-memorandum-of-understanding-to-empower-bvlos-drone-operations/
About Skypuzzler
Skypuzzler is a Denmark-based leading company driving innovation in the aviation industry, recognized for its groundbreaking Digital Air Traffic Control system, which has received awards at prominent aerospace exhibitions. This cutting-edge software seamlessly integrates with Unmanned Traffic Management(UTM) systems, enabling the safe operation of autonomous drones in shared airspace with manned aircraft. Backed by a visionary leadership team comprising former air traffic controllers and software experts, Skypuzzler is deeply committed to enhancing the safety and accessibility of drone technology. For more information, please visit: https://www.skypuzzler.com
About Unifly NV
Unifly is a leading aviation tech company dedicated to enhancing the safety and efficiency of autonomous aviation with cutting-edge technology. The Unifly platform acts as a crucial bridge within the UAS ecosystem, enabling the safe and secure integration of next-generation aircraft into the airspace. By digitizing and automating traffic management and integrating seamlessly with drones and Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Unifly addresses the exponential growth in air traffic expected in the coming decades. The company has a proven track record of implementing more than ten commercial UTM deployments, establishing it as a world leader in this industry.
For more information, please visit the website at Unifly.aero or contact us at press@unifly.aero.
About Terra Drone Corporation
Terra Drone Corporation, headquartered in Japan, is a global leader in drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions. Dedicated to the mission of “Unlock ‘X’ Dimensions”, the company is committed to creating a prosperous future by “crossing” bridges—integrating diverse fields to foster innovation and find solutions. Specializing in surveying, inspections, agriculture, and UAS Traffic Management (UTM), Terra Drone serves industries such as oil and gas, construction, chemicals, energy, and agriculture.
With a portfolio of over 3,000 completed projects worldwide, Terra Drone has achieved significant milestones in the drone operations field. In July 2023, the company acquired a majority stake in Unifly, a world-leading provider of UTM platform, with deployments in over eight countries, followed by an investment in U.S.-based Aloft Technologies in February 2024, further expanding its capabilities in UTM.
Recognized by Drone Industry Insights as one of the top three industrial drone service providers globally for five consecutive years, Terra Drone aims to build the digital infrastructure necessary to unlock the full potential of drones and AAM solutions. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.terra-drone.net
Media Contact
PR Team, Terra Drone Corporation
Tel: +81-3-6419-7193
Email: pr@terra-drone.co.jp
