A scheme to explore how drones could be developed to detect and avoid other aircraft has failed to be granted funding by the Government
Britain’s hopes of taking a leading position in drone technology have suffered a blow after the Government failed to fund a scheme to explore how unmanned aircraft can fly in normal airspace.
The Astraea (Autonomous Systems Technology Related Airborne Evaluation & Assessment) programme is a partnership between government and industry.
It aims to invent systems and equipment to allow drones to operate beyond the current controls, which limit them to an altitude of 400ft, and visual line of sight of the operator at about 1,500ft.
However, to develop their full potential they need to be able to fly at heights that would see them mixing with conventional aircraft.
This requires the development of systems that allow drones to sense and avoid other aircraft.
However, as Simon Jewell, Astraea’s chairman, has explained, “regulators require an example system to certify [but] industry requires regulations to specify requirements”.
Astraea was set up in 2006 to look into how to do this with a budget of £62m, with half coming from companies including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, QinetiQ, Cobham and Airbus, and the rest from the Government through Innovate UK.
Military, commercial and small helicopter drones owned by enthusiasts will soon fill Britain’s skies, experts say Photo: Reuters
However, Astraea’s application for a further round of public funding – thought to be about £30m – has now been turned down.
“Astraea could not make a case that was good enough for the amount they were asking for,” said an industry source.
An Astraea spokesman said: “The UK is widely recognised for its world-leading aerospace sector and it is important that it works to ensure that the appropriate regulations and operating procedures around this new type of aircraft are established.”
A spokesman for the Business Department said: “The Government is continuing to work with industry and the Aerospace Technology Institute on opportunities in this important market.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/11819554/Drone-industry-denied-government-funding.html