Unifly, a leading aviation technology company and provider of UAS Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, has advanced two core technologies for managing high-density drone traffic in urban airspace as part of the CONDUCT 2 project. The project builds on the EUROSTARS-funded CONDUCT initiative, which delivered a next-generation UTM platform with capabilities such as real-time tracking, advanced geofencing and tactical deconfliction services, the project introduces two new technologies that strengthen Unifly’s UTM platform and support the next generation of U-space services across Europe.
Today’s U-space services (U1 and U2) support functions such as identification, flight planning and tracking for low-density drone operations. As autonomous drones are increasingly deployed for infrastructure inspection, emergency response and medical delivery, the number and complexity of flights near buildings, critical infrastructure and manned aircraft is expected to increase beyond the operating conditions for which these services were originally designed.
The original CONDUCT project focused on strategic U-space services that support lower-density drone operations, CONDUCT 2 addresses the next challenge: enabling safe and efficient drone operations in increasingly complex urban environments.
CONDUCT 2 focuses on two main technical developments:
- Intent-based Conflict Detection and Resolution (CD&R): an advanced algorithm that anticipates and resolves potential conflicts based on predicted flight intent.
- 4D route segmentation: an advanced algorithm that allocates flight routes into segments across longitude, latitude, altitude and time, allowing for more efficient use of the airspace.
The technologies will be validated through operational scenarios developed in collaboration with port authorities. This will help ensure that they address the real-world challenges of managing high-density drone traffic in complex airspace.
“The original CONDUCT project laid an important foundation for our UTM platform. With CONDUCT 2, we are expanding its capabilities to support operations in increasingly congested airspace and the continued evolution of the Unifly platform’s U-space capabilities. By combining advanced conflict detection with more dynamic airspace management, we are helping our customers prepare for increasingly complex drone operations in dense airspace.”Charlotte Kegelaers, Head of Product
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By joining Europe’s leading partnership for air traffic management research and innovation, Unifly becomes part of a collaborative ecosystem working to shape the Digital European Sky and the future of safe, digital and interoperable aviation.
The membership marks another important milestone in Unifly’s commitment to the safe and scalable integration of drones into European airspace. Working alongside air navigation service providers, airports, regulators, manufacturers and research organisations, Unifly will contribute its operational UTM experience, regulatory expertise and commitment to autonomous aviation to help accelerate the development and deployment of U-space and UTM solutions in Europe.
“Joining SESAR JU is an important step for Unifly as we continue to contribute to the safe and scalable integration of drones into the European airspace. SESAR JU plays a central role in shaping the Digital European Sky, and we are proud to bring our operational UTM experience, regulatory expertise and commitment to autonomous aviation into this collaborative ecosystem. By working alongside Europe’s leading aviation stakeholders, we aim to help accelerate the development and deployment of trusted U-space and UTM solutions that enable drones to operate safely, efficiently and at scale in shared airspace.”Andres Van Swalm, CEO of Unifly
Unifly has been actively involved in numerous European research and innovation initiatives over the past decade, contributing to the evolution of U-space concepts, digital airspace services and unmanned traffic management. Its membership of SESAR JU further strengthens the company’s role in helping deliver the technologies and operational frameworks needed to support the continued growth of the drone economy across Europe and beyond.
The announcement follows SESAR JU’s admission of four new members, expanding the partnership to 59 organisations and further strengthening Europe’s collaborative approach to next-generation air traffic management.
About Unifly
Unifly is a technology company rooted in aviation, dedicated to enabling autonomous aviation by advancing the safety and efficiency of UAS Traffic Management. The Unifly platform connects authorities, drone operators and stakeholders to digitise and automate airspace management, supporting the safe integration of next-generation aircraft. Through Unifly Consulting, the company combines UTM solutions with recognised regulatory and safety expertise, offering SORA, regulatory guidance and operational strategy, creating a comprehensive ecosystem that powers the future of autonomous aviation worldwide.
About SESAR JU
The SESAR Joint Undertaking is a European institutional public-private partnership established to accelerate, through research and innovation, the delivery of the Digital European Sky. It brings together public and private aviation stakeholders to develop and accelerate the uptake of technological solutions for the future of air traffic management, including the safe integration of conventional aircraft, drones, air taxis and higher-altitude vehicles.
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Terra Drone Corporation, a leading drone and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology company headquartered in Japan, is pleased to announce that its group company and a global leader in UAS Traffic Management (UTM) solutions, Unifly, has released a new position paper titled “Navigating the Urban Airspace: UTM as a Catalyst for Urban Air Mobility”. The position paper presents Unifly’s vision and roadmap for enabling safe and scalable next-generation air mobility through advanced UTM solutions.
Background of Unveil the Position Paper
With accelerating urbanization worldwide, there is an urgent demand for faster and more environmentally sustainable modes of transport. Against this backdrop, Urban Air Mobility (UAM)—leveraging technologies such as drones and eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft—is rapidly emerging as a key solution for next-generation mobility.
Advancements in battery technology, lightweight materials, and automation are bringing eVTOL aircraft closer to large-scale commercial deployment. However, to realize safe and efficient operations, it is essential to address new challenges such as airspace safety and UTM infrastructure. As a leading UTM provider, Unifly has published this position paper to offer a comprehensive roadmap addressing these critical needs. The company clarifies the role of UTM as “digital infrastructure” that supports both the safety and scalability of airspace, and also provides recommendations for policy and regulatory framework development.
Overview of the Position Paper
The paper mainly covers the following topics and presents Unifly’s solutions and roadmap for the widespread deployment of next-generation air mobility.
Key topics include:
Transforming the Urban Sky
eVTOL aircraft will coexist with manned aircraft, helicopters, general aviation, and drones to offer a new transport option within the complex airspace over cities. With growing urbanization and evolving mobility demands, the foundation for aerial transportation is steadily taking shape.
Market Trends and Technology Advancements
Driven by technological breakthroughs and active investment from both the public and private sectors, UAM manufacturers are scaling up production at a rapid pace, even surpassing helicopter production volumes. New aircraft models—quieter, greener, and more cost-efficient—are increasingly entering the market, with urban ride-share-style air transport services becoming a tangible reality.
Key Barriers to Large-Scale Adoption
The widespread adoption of next-generation air mobility faces several major challenges, which pose significant barriers to seamless integration into existing transportation networks.
- Highly complex environment unique to urban areas
- Difficulty for existing air traffic control systems to manage a large volume of diverse vehicles
- Slow development of landing and take-off infrastructure (vertiports)
- Shortage of qualified pilots for UAM operations
- Absence of globally unified standards
- The delayed phased integration of air traffic management (ATM) and UTM in airspace shared by both manned and unmanned aircraft
Unifly’s Solution and Comprehensive Roadmap
To overcome these barriers, Unifly proposes a comprehensive roadmap to enhance UTM capabilities and enable safe and scalable deployment of next-generation air mobility. Key capabilities include:
- Strategic deconfliction of flight paths to prevent airspace congestion
- Vertiport slot allocation and management
- Optimal deployment and allocation of pilots and aircraft
- Real-time emergency response capabilities
- Preparation for the introduction of “Digital Flight Rules (DFR)” aimed at autonomous and remotely piloted operations
Through these initiatives, Unifly aims to establish a robust and reliable operational management framework that will support both safe and efficient operation of next-generation air mobility in urban areas.
Unifly’s Track Record and Future Prospect
For nearly a decade, Unifly has provided UTM solutions to aviation authorities and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) across the globe. The company remains at the forefront of next-generation airspace management systems centered on UTM and continues to actively contribute to their realization.
Through this position paper, Unifly aims to engage policymakers, industry leaders, and a wider audience with its strategic vision and to promote collaboration and dialogue toward building a safer and more efficient next-generation air mobility society.
The full the position paper can be downloaded here: https://www.unifly.aero/utm-uam-aam/
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