Mönchengladbach - Airport to Stadium and back

Songbird UAV in flight with soccer stadium in the background

Approach of the Germandrones Songbird to Borussia's Nordpark Stadium. The UAV is used for testing procedures for future flying taxis.

Mobile Groundstation for UAV operations by Germandrones

The mobile ground station stayed at the airport. From here, the live image from the pilot's camera can be monitored and the UAV can be controlled via a 4G data connection.

Map with flight path and zones for SkyCab drone operation

Flight route, control zone (red) and corridors (gray background). The route had been tested both clockwise and counterclockwise.

In SkyCab’s second project stage, a Songbird drone completed the 40-km-trip around Mönchengladbach with a stopover at the Nordpark Stadium.

This week's press event had been preceded by several test flights (see “Songbird Drone Operating in Airport Control Zone MGL” - news from 08/12/2021). One of the aims of the BMVI-funded project is to develop concepts for integrating unmanned systems and air taxis into controlled airspace. Germandrones contributes its expertise in UAS operations to the project and provides the Songbird, as this UAV can simulate the potential air taxi in practical tests due to its range, speed and BVLOS-capabilities.

While in the airport’s control zone, the remote pilots are in contact with the tower and fly within certain corridors that have been defined together with DAS (Deutsche Flugsicherung Aviation Services). Additional safety is ensured by redundant transmissions of live data and the front camera’s video stream via the 4G mobile network. The system is complemented by a DRONIQ HOD, which makes the Songbird electronically visible for air traffic control, using a combination of ADS-B, FLARM and the cellular mobile network.

A major part of the preparations was the development of procedures for operating in controlled airspace which was done in close cooperation with DAS and MGL Airport. Procedures for emergencies and incidents have also been defined which the autopilot executes independently, e.g., in case of a loss of connectivity.

 

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