Terra Drone, Unifly and Aloft Technologies begin developing a flight management system for flying cars targeting overseas.
*View in browser* *Terra Drone Co., Ltd.*
Press release: April 25, 2024
Terra Drone, Unifly and Aloft Technologies begin developing a flight management system for flying cars targeting overseas.
*The world’s first development by multiple companies with experience in implementing and operating UTM systems, aiming to contribute to the global implementation of flying cars in society*
Terra Drone Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo,
Representative: Toru Tokushige, hereinafter referred to as
Terra Drone) is a subsidiary of Unifly NV (hereinafter referred to as “Terra Drone”), a subsidiary of Unifly NV (hereinafter “Terra Drone”), a leading company in the Belgium-based transportation management system (UTM) (*1) provider.
UniFly) and Aloft Technologies, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as UTM), which boasts the top market share in the United States with UTM, which we invested in and became a group company in March.
Aloft) in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East,
On April 25, 2024 (local time, 24th local time), we announced that we will begin the development of a flight management system for flying cars targeting overseas markets such as Asia. Exhibition “XPONENTIAL 2024” was announced. As a company with extensive experience in implementing and operating UTM, this is the first time in the world (*2) that multiple companies have teamed up to develop a flight management system for flying cars based on that experience.
*1 Operation management system (UTM): A platform for safely, securely, and efficiently operating multiple unmanned aircraft flying in the same airspace.
*2 In-house research
Background to the start of development
In recent years, the development of flying cars has been progressing around the world, and it is expected that they will lead to a new means of transportation. It is predicted that it will become more popular worldwide, with flights being planned to coincide with international events around the world. According to a study by Morgan Stanley in the United States, the market size of urban air
transportation (UAM) (*3), which includes flying cars, will be 1 trillion dollars (approximately 151 trillion yen) in 2040, and 9 trillion by 2050. It is expected to expand to US$ (approximately 1,362 trillion yen) (*4).
*3 Urban air transportation (UAM): Among flying vehicles (AAM), short-distance, low-altitude AAM operations that mainly take place in urban areas.
Reference: Public-Private Council for Air Mobility Revolution “Flying Car Operational Concept”
https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/001739488.pdf
*4 Morgan Stanley “eVTOL/Urban Air Mobility TAM Update: A Slow Take-Off, But Sky’s the Limit”
https://advisor.morganstanley.com/the-busot-group/documents/field/b/bu/busot-group/Electric%20Vehicles.pdf
Figure 1: Global flying car market size
Terra Drone is the world’s second largest service provider for drone solutions (*5), and UniFly has the world’s top track record in introducing UTM at the national level in countries such as Canada and Germany, and the market for drones and flying cars is the largest in the world. Aloft (*6), which boasts a share of over 84% in the UTM market in the United States, is said to have a large market share, and is anticipating this kind of market expansion. In order to realize a future where we can coexist and fly on a daily basis, we believe that the existence of a flight management system that serves as an infrastructure platform at low altitudes is essential.
*5 Drone Industry Insights, “Drone Service Providers Ranking 2023,” https://droneii.com/top-drone-service-companies-in-2023
*6 Calculated based on FAA LAANC report and Aloft user data. Source: “Aloft Launches New Fleet & UTM Capabilities, Surpassing 84% of LAANC Airspace Authorizations In September,”
https://www.aloft.ai/blog/aloft-launches-new-fleet-utm-capabilities-surpassing-84-of-laanc-airspace-authorizations-in-september/
In addition, the three companies have spent nearly 10 years developing UTM since the dawn of drones. Based on that experience, in preparation for the expansion of the flying car market, we will proceed with the development of a traffic management system for flying cars by expanding the functions of the existing UTM platform, which is becoming increasingly digitalized and automated. I thought it was possible. The three companies have decided to begin joint development with the common vision of enabling safe and efficient flight of flying cars and drones in the near future.
What is the UTM for flying cars that the three companies aim to develop? Existing UTMs are not functionally designed to fully support the flight of flying cars, and we believe that flight management systems for flying cars will become more diverse and complex. Under these circumstances, the three companies recognized the needs of the ever-evolving flying car industry, and proceeded with the development of additional functions essential for flying cars, and incorporated them into the existing UTM to support flight operations for flying cars. We will build a management system platform. We also plan to focus on automation and promote operational efficiency.
Furthermore, similar to the existing UTM that is currently being implemented in various countries, it is assumed that some
specifications will differ from country to country, but in the medium to long term, the standard is aimed at seamless interoperability and integration on a global basis. Our policy is to actively contribute to the development of society.
Figure 2: Image of the flight management system for flying cars developed by three companies
About the future
As we move forward with development, we will seek partners from flying car-related manufacturers, vertiport (*7) operators, and aviation companies, as well as from aviation authorities and air traffic control service providers (ANSP) in each country. Our policy is to collaborate with all relevant parties, such as by conducting interviews regarding their intentions.
*7 Vertiport: VTOL machine (Vertical Take-Off and
A land helipad used exclusively for VTOL aircraft, such as an airport, is a fixed area on land used for the arrival, departure, and ground movement of aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing functions. reference
:Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Vertiport Development Guidelines
https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/001711020.pdf
Through the development of a platform equipped with flight management technology for flying cars, Terra Drone, UniFly, and Aloft will contribute to the expansion of the industry and social implementation of flying cars and drones, as well as contribute to the global sustainable development of flying cars and drones. We aim to build an air infrastructure that will become a safe ecosystem.
For more information, please see the special website (scheduled to be released on Thursday, April 25, 2024).
https://terra-drone.net/global/utmforaam
Unifly NV
UTM (Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic) is headquartered in Belgium. Management) technology provider, primarily developing operation management systems for drones and flying cars. With a track record of nationwide UTM implementation in eight European and American countries, we are a world-leading company in this field. Terra Drone concluded a strategic partnership agreement in 2016, also formed a capital alliance, and in 2023 acquired a 51% stake and made it a subsidiary. DFS, an ANSP (air traffic control service provider) affiliated with the German government, also highly values the company’s knowledge and technological capabilities, and invested in the company in 2018, making it the second largest shareholder. For more information, please visit www.unifly.aero
Aloft Technologies, Inc.
Aloft founded in 2015
Technologies (Aloft) is a service provider of drone operation management systems (UTM) and fleet management systems. US UTM (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification
Capability: LAANC) boasts a market share of over 80%. As a UTM service provider approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), we have completed more than 1 million flight approval applications for drone flights across the United States. In addition, Aloft’s UTM is It is used by a wide range of people, from individual drone pilots to businesses and government agencies.
For more information, please visit https://www.aloft.ai/
Terra Drone Co., Ltd.
“Unlock “X”
Founded in 2016 with the mission of “Fusing different dimensions to create a prosperous future”, we are a service provider that develops and provides solutions for flying cars and drones. Headquartered in Tokyo, we provide patented surveying and inspection drones developed in-house to the oil and gas, chemical, and construction industries in 11 countries both domestically and internationally. We have a rich track record in countries around the world and strong R&D capabilities regarding non-destructive inspection work using drones. We also have a track record of deploying a traffic management system (UTM) that has been implemented in eight countries around the world.
For more information, visit http://www.terra-drone.net
Inquiries regarding this matter
Terra Drone Co., Ltd.
Email: pr@terra-drone.co.jp
HP: http://www.terra-drone.net
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