Terra Drone Corporation, a global leader in drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) technology headquartered in Japan, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with its Group companies Unifly NV (Unifly) and Aloft Technologies Inc (Aloft) to develop UAS Traffic Management (UTM) for AAMs targeting global markets. This joint development initiative was unveiled at the XPONENTIAL 2024 expo, a prominent event for unmanned systems and robotics held in San Diego.
The partnership between Terra Drone, Unifly, and Aloft aims to capitalize on the rapid global progress in electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), which are set to revolutionize transportation. According to research by Morgan Stanley, the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2040 and $9 trillion by 2050, reflecting the significant growth potential of this sector.
Terra Drone, Unifly, and Aloft are uniquely positioned for this collaboration, boasting a decade of experience in UTM development since the inception of the modern drone industry. Terra Drone, the world’s second-largest drone solution provider, has made strategic investments in Unifly and Aloft, both leading UTM technology providers in Belgium and the United States, respectively.
The collaboration between these three companies represents the world’s first joint UTM development for AAMs by multiple companies with extensive track records in UTM implementation and operation. With a shared vision to enable safe and efficient flight operations for eVTOLs and drones, the companies are enhancing their existing UTM platforms to meet the evolving needs of the AAM industry.
The UTM platforms are designed with a strong emphasis on automation, featuring advanced planning functionalities and sophisticated NOTAM parsing capabilities. These enhancements will streamline operational efficiencies and pave the way for the integration of increasingly automated and sophisticated UTM technology into the design and operational framework of AAMs.
In pursuit of this vision, Terra Drone, Unifly, and Aloft are actively seeking collaboration with eVTOL manufacturers, operators, vertiport operators, aviation authorities, air navigation service providers (ANSPs), urban planners, and educational institutions for research and development. By forging strategic partnerships across these diverse sectors, the three companies aim to build a global UTM infrastructure that kickstarts the AAM industry worldwide.
