The Current State of Drone (UAV) Research in the European Union (EU)

In terms of coverage, the focus of such efforts concentrated mostly on technologies - such as detect and avoid, command and control, airport operations, airspace access, and contingency and security including cyber-resilience – with a clear deficit on operational, certification and other ancillary questions that are paramount for a sound and robust market development. At EU level, whilst a myriad of relevant research activities are now up and running, including notably aspects dealing with:

• Air traffic integration by SESAR;
• Small RPAS identification and geo-fencing by the JRC;
• Generic drone research under the Horizon 2020 Programme;
• Military applications under the aegis of the European Defence Agency.

A key underpinning problem is that such R&D efforts are to a large extent performed by traditional aviation actors, adopting mostly concepts and approaches akin to the aviation sector. This constitutes a strong barrier to innovation originating from fast pace sectors – such as informatics, telecommunications, robotics or advanced materials – which are often waived away by the aviation community. This creates a pernicious circle; potential new actors do not get sufficient access to "aviation" funding that can prime their interest and create win-win scenarios; while aviation "insiders" feel crowded out by the new actors.

Novel, more embracing and enlarged, schemes of cooperation are therefore required to bridge the gaps between such diverse communities. This will entail seeking innovative ways of funding and govern R&D structures that embody a higher fit-for-purpose capability. Notably, it is crucial that R&D eventually results in tangible outcomes with a potential to rapidly penetrate the marketplace, matching the swift drone-related product and service development cycles we witness elsewhere. To that extent, the following concrete actions are proposed in the short term:

• Apply alternative funding and integrate innovative technologies under development, in a first phase, in the aviation exploratory research and later to applied research; and at the same time reach out to interested companies that want to engage in drone operations but do not have a traditional aviation background;
• Increase SESAR drone activities in the next Multi Financial Framework with a strong leadership to implement R&D. The SESAR Joint Undertaking is best placed to assume this responsibility and become accountable for delivering concrete results for all airspace users.
• Enhance the coordination with national projects and projects led by other EU Joint Technology Initiatives and agencies, including the European Defence Agency;
• Streamline the R&D activities with the regulatory and standard setting activities.
• To establish an for drone research by inventorying the relevant activities carried out at EU, national and regional level, and where feasible, pooling results and resources;

In the longer term additional and wider actions should be developed:

• Define a Master Plan for drone research, that embodies a vision of the drone market, the steps necessary to reach the latter, and the role of the public authorities in enabling such a vision; this will necessary entail the consideration of aspects such as product innovation, end-to-end services, regulatory, standardisation and certification aspects, spreading the whole of cycle of drone-related products, processes and operations;
• Create a blueprint of Ancillary Measures, in fields as diverse as education and training, venture capital, public procurement, that can attract a whole new community of entrepreneurs into the EU drone industry, creating a new momentum and spearheading disruptive concepts into the latter;
• Heighten the visibility of the EU drone industry, by devising high-profile challenges and prize initiatives, with a global dimension, contrasting EU products and services with other foreign initiatives.

In the reports of DRONE MARKET WATCH^TM you will learn how drones (UAVs) could be operated in the EU airspace in the coming years to maintain the high levels of safety, privacy and data protection, security, or environmental protection. More information you may read here: Global Drone (UAV) Flight Regulations