Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Di-PEGASUS (DIgital comPEtitive next Generation Aviation technologies for SUStainable business models, products and services.)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-12-01 bis 2025-05-31
Transport is responsible for 25% of CO2 emissions in Europe and is the largest cause of urban air pollution. The European Green Deal aims for climate neutrality by 2050, necessitating smarter, safer, more competitive, and sustainable transport systems for both passengers and freight. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) can play a significant role in achieving this goal by reducing traffic congestion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and improving transport efficiency. To maximize the potential of UAS and ensure scalability in crowded airspace, enhancing autonomy levels is essential, especially in deconfliction and dynamic capacity management. This is vital for new business models like on-demand multi-modal transport, including Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Regional Air Mobility (RAM). RAM can use existing light aircraft for local trips and traditional modes like seaplanes for flexible, fast transport. These services could improve urban mobility and intercity connections, serving short or less popular routes. Artificial Intelligence (AI) supports increased aircraft autonomy and automated decision-making in fleet and airspace management. AI will utilize onboard sensors for collision avoidance and self-separation and manage dynamic aircraft routing based on demand, reducing emissions. In fleet management, AI will optimize resource allocation, considering aircraft and ground infrastructure like vertiports and water airports. To ensure efficient aircraft lifecycle management, digitalization of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) processes is proposed, incorporating health monitoring, anomaly detection, and eco-design strategies. This minimizes aircraft downtime and maintains revenue generation. For successful implementation of UAM, small aircraft, and seaplanes, and new business models like on-demand transport and disaster response, factors like public acceptance, societal, economic, and environmental impacts, and air transport network efficiency must be considered. Investments in new or adapted infrastructure, fleet, and MRO operations may be necessary.
Di-PEGASUS addresses these needs with a user-centered approach, developing innovative aircraft and ground maintenance digital technologies. It proposes a digital platform to evaluate the viability of business models at specific locations, considering available digital technologies and key performance indicators such as cost-effectiveness, job creation, emissions savings, and investment costs. This platform will make recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders and assess regulatory compliance and safety assurance processes. The proposed platform will guide the development and exploitation of Di-PEGASUS technologies, considering regulatory approval, testing, validation, and required infrastructure. It will evaluate societal and economic impacts, helping stakeholders assess the cost, infrastructure needs, and societal, environmental, and economic effects of new services. This information is crucial for the successful adoption of innovative technologies from the early development phases.
Therefore, Di-PEGASUS overall objective is to enable fully autonomous cost-effective and environmentally friendly operations for seaplanes, VTOL and drones. This objective will be achieved by developing several enabling technologies targeting both the air and the ground side. In addition, the project aims at developing innovative business models that can exploit the abovementioned technologies and a platform which will be used by relevant stakeholders and end-users to evaluate the impact of both the technologies and the business models.
In detail, Di-Pegasus has the following objectives:
1. To develop digital technologies that enable fully autonomous cost-effective and environmentally friendly aircraft operations in low altitude airspace.
2. To develop digital technologies that enable cost-effective and environmentally friendly aircraft ground operations.
3. To develop a tool that can be used for impact and cost-benefit analysis of future innovative technologies starting from the early development phases.
4. To develop business models that, by leveraging on the innovative technologies developed by Di-Pegasus, can unlock their full potential.
Di-PEGASUS addresses these needs with a user-centered approach, developing innovative aircraft and ground maintenance digital technologies. It proposes a digital platform to evaluate the viability of business models at specific locations, considering available digital technologies and key performance indicators such as cost-effectiveness, job creation, emissions savings, and investment costs. This platform will make recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders and assess regulatory compliance and safety assurance processes. The proposed platform will guide the development and exploitation of Di-PEGASUS technologies, considering regulatory approval, testing, validation, and required infrastructure. It will evaluate societal and economic impacts, helping stakeholders assess the cost, infrastructure needs, and societal, environmental, and economic effects of new services. This information is crucial for the successful adoption of innovative technologies from the early development phases.
Therefore, Di-PEGASUS overall objective is to enable fully autonomous cost-effective and environmentally friendly operations for seaplanes, VTOL and drones. This objective will be achieved by developing several enabling technologies targeting both the air and the ground side. In addition, the project aims at developing innovative business models that can exploit the abovementioned technologies and a platform which will be used by relevant stakeholders and end-users to evaluate the impact of both the technologies and the business models.
In detail, Di-Pegasus has the following objectives:
1. To develop digital technologies that enable fully autonomous cost-effective and environmentally friendly aircraft operations in low altitude airspace.
2. To develop digital technologies that enable cost-effective and environmentally friendly aircraft ground operations.
3. To develop a tool that can be used for impact and cost-benefit analysis of future innovative technologies starting from the early development phases.
4. To develop business models that, by leveraging on the innovative technologies developed by Di-Pegasus, can unlock their full potential.
The Di-Pegasus project has made significant progress in developing digital technologies aimed at enabling fully autonomous, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly aircraft operations in low-altitude airspace. One of the key achievements is the creation of a modular planner that adapts to changing terrain and obstacles. Additionally, the project has demonstrated AI-based collision avoidance in both single and multi-drone simulations. A simulation platform has been built to test drone behaviours and prepare for real-world delivery operations. The design of a control station enables operators to manage multiple drones from a single interface, and a backend system has been developed to automate drone fleet operations, from mission planning to maintenance. Furthermore, a solution integrating three distinct localization technologies—vision-based localization, radio signal-based positioning, and accurate GNSS—has been designed to enable auto-landing at vertiports.
In the area of ground operations, the project has focused on developing digital technologies for aircraft ground operations. The initial design of a tool for automated health status monitoring and health management of aircraft and vertiports/water airports has been completed. Strategies for biofouling mitigation at water airports and icing mitigation at vertiport structures, using ultrasonic waves, have been defined. Collaborative initiatives promoting circularity in the aviation sector and existing digital platforms supporting the (re)sale and repair of aviation parts have been identified. Additionally, a system-level architecture of a supporting tool for aircraft parts recycling has been developed.
The project has also developed a methodology for impact and cost-benefit analysis to be used in the digital platform. This includes the development of an impact assessment methodology and the initial development of platform communication interfaces between all modules. Innovative business models leveraging the technologies developed by Di-Pegasus have been created, including feasibility-stage business models using the Osterwalder Canvas for each type of service (seaplanes, drones, UAM).
The outcomes of these actions have been substantial, contributing to the project's overall objectives and ensuring alignment with both technical goals and market potential. The development and validation of these technologies and methodologies have laid a strong foundation for future advancements in autonomous aviation and sustainable ground operations.
In the area of ground operations, the project has focused on developing digital technologies for aircraft ground operations. The initial design of a tool for automated health status monitoring and health management of aircraft and vertiports/water airports has been completed. Strategies for biofouling mitigation at water airports and icing mitigation at vertiport structures, using ultrasonic waves, have been defined. Collaborative initiatives promoting circularity in the aviation sector and existing digital platforms supporting the (re)sale and repair of aviation parts have been identified. Additionally, a system-level architecture of a supporting tool for aircraft parts recycling has been developed.
The project has also developed a methodology for impact and cost-benefit analysis to be used in the digital platform. This includes the development of an impact assessment methodology and the initial development of platform communication interfaces between all modules. Innovative business models leveraging the technologies developed by Di-Pegasus have been created, including feasibility-stage business models using the Osterwalder Canvas for each type of service (seaplanes, drones, UAM).
The outcomes of these actions have been substantial, contributing to the project's overall objectives and ensuring alignment with both technical goals and market potential. The development and validation of these technologies and methodologies have laid a strong foundation for future advancements in autonomous aviation and sustainable ground operations.