Thales Australia and Swinburne University of Technology’s Aerostructures Innovation Research Hub (AIR Hub) have entered a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the development of new operational concepts to support evolving aviation concepts including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) for next generation aerostructures.
The study will focus on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) to support regional cargo delivery and critical infrastructure inspections, Urban Air Mobility including Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL), Concept of Operations for urban vertiports, and the integration of concepts of operation for traditional Air Traffic Management (ATM) and new concepts of operation for Unmanned Air Traffic Management (UTM).
Grant Williams, Technical Director, Thales Australia and New Zealand said: “Thales’s collaboration with Swinburne’s AIR Hub is a natural extension to the extensive research and development Thales has achieved globally in advanced air traffic management systems. We are able to leverage the extensive knowledge, skills and expertise we have around the world that has application in emerging opportunities and challenges in the UTM domain. This will bring a complete perspective to new modes of operation of ATM and UTM and their future integration.”
Dr Adriano Di Pietro, Director, Swinburne University of Technology’s AIR Hub said: “Swinburne’s AIR Hub is delighted to be extending our partnership with global leader Thales to drive the development of next generation aerostructures and air operations right here in Australia. Future autonomy and UTM will play an important role in development of AAM. By working collaboratively, Thales and the AIR Hub will undertake concurrent development, feeding data and findings between aircraft and aerostructures development and the sensory and control systems that will be installed into autonomous aircraft.”
As a part of the deal, both the companies will also work on research and develop of how ATM systems need to tailor their approach to integrate UTM, while ensuring compatibility and interoperability.