New Business Possibilities Expanded by Drone Autonomous Flight Level 4
The demand for flying drones is on the rise. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the number of drone flight permit applications has increased from 13,535 in 2016 to 60,068 in 2020, a 4.4-fold increase in four years.
In the future, the potential of drones will further expand due to the evolution of technology and the establishment of aviation laws, and it is expected that the way for business applications will be greatly expanded. The potential of drones is still unknown.
Okay, let's get down to business. On February 24, 2022, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) announced "Drone operation business using an operation management system" as a research result of "Project for realizing an energy-saving society where robots and drones are active". Published. This report explores the possibilities of the future drone business.
In this article, based on the same report, I will touch on the possibility of flight level 4 to realize BVLOS flight in manned areas.
▼Disclosure of “Drone Operation Business Using Operation Management System”｜NEDO https://nedo-dress.jp/topics/3032.html
Article table of contents
■Outline of the Industrial Revolution in the Sky with Drones
The report "The Project for Realizing an Energy-Saving Society Using Robots and Drones" is a national project "Robots・Under the Project for Realizing an Energy-Saving Society in which Drones are Active, we have verified the construction of a sustainable business model and an operation management system that functions in various areas and use cases in a flight level 4 society. KDDI and PERSOL PROCESS & TECHNOLOGY have commissioned the research.
The report summarizes the following. The contents of each item will be described later.
What is an unmanned aerial vehicle?
In the Civil Aeronautics Act, unmanned aerial vehicles are defined as airplanes, rotorcraft, gliders, and airships that cannot be ridden by humans and can be flown by remote control or autopilot. Specifically, drones, radio-controlled machines, and pesticide-spraying helicopters fall into this category. From June 20, 2022, registration of unmanned aerial vehicles will become mandatory due to revisions to the Civil Aeronautics Act.
However, those weighing less than 200 grams (less than 100 grams from June 20, 2022) are classified as model aircraft and are not subject to regulations on flying unmanned aerial vehicles.
What is flight level?
Similar to self-driving cars, unmanned aerial vehicles are also classified according to flight modes. Level 1 is "controlled flight within visual line of sight", level 2 is "non-controlled flight within visual line of sight", level 3 is "out-of-sight flight in no-man's land (without arranging an assistant)", level 4 is "manned-land" flight beyond visual line of sight (without an assistant)”.
Level 4 uses automatic driving technology to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle to a range that the operator cannot see, such as above the space where people live.
According to Roadmap 2021 for the Industrial Revolution in the Air, Level 4 is set as a goal to be achieved by 2022. The plan is to first achieve Level 4 in remote islands and mountainous areas, and then develop into flights in densely populated areas and simultaneous operation of multiple aircraft.
[Reference] Regarding unmanned aerial vehicles and flight levels, see "What is the flight level of small unmanned aerial vehicles (drones, etc.)? Amendments to the Civil Aeronautics Act make "Level 4" possible"
■Possibility of Drone Operation Business
Amendment of Civil Aeronautics Act Enables Level 4 Flight
According to Amendment of Civil Aeronautics Act, Aircraft Certification to Certify Aircraft Safety System" and a "skill certification system" to certify the pilot's skill will be established. plans to require the acquisition of first-class aircraft certification and first-class licenses, as well as measures to ensure safety.
For relatively high-risk flights, we have a second-class airframe certification and a second-class license, and safety measures are taken. It is said that a plan to simplify the procedure for
A wide range of services such as logistics, aerial photography, and security are possible
The following are business use cases that will expand with the realization of Level 4.
(1) illustrates the delivery of medicines and foodstuffs to the front door in urban areas, hilly and mountainous areas, remote islands, etc. (2) includes security for manned event facilities, wide-area facilities, and remote islands, measures against pests and poachers, and searches for maritime distresses. It includes aerial photography of the match.
(4) Surveying construction sites and forest resource surveys, including above manned areas. (5) Inspection of bridges, erosion control dams, chimneys, and factory equipment. (6) Spraying pesticides over manned areas. and confirming the growth status of crops and vermin intrusion in scattered cultivated areas, and ⑦, disaster relief activities in urban areas and isolated villages, transportation of relief supplies and confirmation of damage, speakers attached to drones, etc. Evacuation guidance using
■Utilization of Traffic Management System
Introduction of traffic management system leads to business expansion
Definitions, functions and roles of traffic management system differ among countries and organizations However, for operators and operators, the main focus is to provide the following services.
① Supports flight route creation on 2D / 3D maps that reflect weather and restriction information, provides position information for own aircraft and nearby other aircraft, sends out plan deviation / collision alerts, remote monitoring / The provision of control functions is mentioned.
(2) includes registering aircraft and pilots, receiving flight plans and applications for radio wave use, and creating flight logbooks and accident information.
(3) includes the provision of airspace information and the provision of drone operating conditions.
By utilizing such an operation management system, for example, by grasping the information of the own aircraft and surrounding aircraft, automatic operation beyond visual line of sight and high frequency and high density operation are possible. operation becomes possible. It also touches on the possibility of responding to diversifying needs and accumulating and secondary use of flight data.
From the perspective of operational efficiency, the cost comparison before and after the introduction of the operation management system in the NEDO demonstration is referenced. According to this, in the average value of seven use cases of logistics, security, aerial photography, surveying, inspection, agriculture, and disaster, there was a cost reduction effect of 21.3% before and after the introduction of the system.
In logistics, there is a tendency to be affected by the existing labor cost rate and the operating environment, but an average cost reduction effect of about 35% is shown.
■Concrete examples of how to build a business model
Confirming the relative superiority and regional characteristics of drones
The realization of Level 4 will expand business possibilities, The birth of a business model is expected, and the following setting procedure is shown in the study of this business model.
In ①, set the content of services that utilize drones as a solution to the problems that the region has, and whether there is a relative advantage of drone services based on services other than drones. It is important to define it from the customer's point of view.
Examples of services in which relative superiority is recognized include grasping of planting conditions, on-site confirmation by police and fire departments, transportation of goods on remote islands and tourist spots, and monitoring of poaching.
(2) explains the necessity of grasping the situation specific to the area, such as fostering understanding among landowners, facility managers, and residents, and confirming the communication environment, weather, climate, topography, and obstacles.
Communication means mainly include satellite communication and LTE communication. LTE has the advantage of high speed and large capacity, but it is susceptible to obstacles. On the other hand, although satellites are inferior in terms of communication speed and transmission delay, they are said to be an effective alternative in areas where LTE networks are not yet available.
In (4), the management resources necessary for sustainable service provision include operators with first-class skill certificates, flight management personnel, business staff, and drones that have received first-class aircraft certification. They include things such as transmission equipment to the traffic management system and equipment to be installed in the drone, operator training costs, aircraft purchase costs, aircraft maintenance costs, and traffic management system usage costs.
For the profit outlook, we estimate the profit and loss based on the understanding of all cost items related to service provision and the trial calculation of sales based on the amount of service provided and the price, and verify whether the service is sustainable. If there is a problem with the profit structure, it is necessary to review the service provision system.
■[Summary] Business use expands at level 4
When autonomous flight in manned areas becomes possible, the use of drones will expand greatly. The commercialization of drones for business use is in full swing, and an era will come when flying at low altitudes in urban areas will become a matter of course.
The use of such low air space should be useful as an experience value when "flying cars" that allow people to ride are put into practical use. It will be interesting to see how the air transportation network develops in the future.
* Articles explaining the material of the Autonomous Driving Lab are collectively posted under "Tag: Material Explanation | Autonomous Driving Lab".
[Reference] See also "What is a flying car? What are the timing and technical requirements? (latest version in 2022)"
