Estonia Full Speed Ahead on U-Space Sandbox

Estonia Moves Forward on U-Space Sandbox

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb

The Estonian Transport Association’s recent investment in a U-Space sandbox in partnership with ANRA Technologies, a leading provider of UAM services, has taken an important new step in its development. A recent stakeholder workshop hosted at Tartu Science Park, which will host the new facility, had attendees from the aerospace industry, industrial groups, and research institutions discussing business plans and viewing preliminary operational concepts, as well as touring sites and discussing the location of an operations center.

The sandbox, which was announced in April, represents a major step in the development of Estonian unmanned aerial vehicle testing and technology and is being created in partnership with Tartu Science Park and the Estonian Aviation Academy. ANRA will be responsible for developing and integrating U-Space and Common Information systems, (nicknamed CACTUS for “Competent Authority Coordinating Testing in U-space Sandbox”), that will provide the technological bedrock of the new site.

The testing site is an important part of Estonia’s involvement in the EU’s U-Space program, which is a UAV management structure that seeks to ensure both manned and unmanned units can coexist in European airspace (read more here). Logistical support will be provided by the Estonian Aviation Academy, whose Vice Rector for Development Maiken Kull highlighted the suitability of Tartu, which features an airport and is a significant center for Estonian research and development, as a hub for the nationwide implementation of U-Space across the Baltic nation.

By sponsoring this sandbox, the Transport Association seeks to enable the safe testing and development of unmanned, autonomous technologies within Estonia. Üllar Salumäe, Director of Aviation at the Estonian Transport Administration highlighted the need for new testing grounds for emerging technologies, saying, “It’s important for the Estonian Transport Administration to ensure that all interested parties have access to modern and versatile infrastructure for testing and validating any necessary solutions for the development of various innovative technologies,”. This is an important investment for the European drone industry, as Tartu Science Park board member Pirko Kansa highlights. “The workshop was a great opportunity to discuss important topics that will impact not only the sandbox, but also the wider community developing an ecosystem for enabling future drone services,” he said. “We are very excited to help develop something that has tremendous value for the drone industry.”

The cooperative project, “Expertise for the Development of an Unmanned Aviation (U-space) Sandbox” will be funded by the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.

Read more:

• Estonia Establishes Drone Sandbox: ANRA Technologies to Provide U-Space and CIS Tech
• Converting Broadcast ID to Network ID: ANRA Wins FAA Contract to Explore Options for Remote ID for Drones
• EASA’s U-Space: What it Means for European Drone Operations (DRONELIFE Exclusive)
• Europe’s U-Space Framework: Amit Ganjoo on The Drone Radio Show Podcast with Randy Goers

Ian McNabb is a staff writer based in Boston, MA. His interests include geopolitics, emerging technologies, environmental sustainability, and Boston College sports.