SINUE | ESA Space Solutions

Objectives of the service

The objectives of the feasibility study are:

To determine the feasibility and the overall planning for a UAS mission that will demonstrate:
-that UAS can be integrated (to a certain extent) into non-segregated airspace using space assets like satellite communications and satellite navigation for Command and Control, Sense and Avoid and ATC (Air Traffic Control) relay,
-the added value of satellite communications for high data-rate payload links.
To provide a detailed investigation of the viability of the selected solution.
To identify the investments necessary in the future and the next steps required in technical and regulatory terms to effectively establish a service solution. Furthermore, a roadmap for the development of specific institutional and commercial services should be provided.

The tasks to be carried out include :

A review of stakeholder and user needs and a survey of feasible UAS missions for a demonstration project intended to take place in Europe in 2011/2012.
A survey of available UAS platforms to be used for a future demonstration project
A survey of available space assets able to fulfil the regulatory and user requirements.
A characterisation of common UAS payloads.
The selection of a representative mission for the end-users.
Simulations and visualisations of the selected mission.
The identification of the infrastructural needs and limitations and of the required endorsement of the stakeholders for the demonstration.
A cost/benefit analysis and the analysis of non-economical viability aspects (legal, regulatory, etc.)
The elaboration of a roadmap for the implementation of services making use of UAS and space assets.
The preparation of a demonstration mission with a strong involvement of relevant user groups.

Users for new institutional and commercial applications and services can be found for example in the following sectors:

The main benefits of integrating space based systems with UAS are:

Demonstrating the capability to operate UAS safely in non-segregated air space (e.g. complying with the requested level of safety-of-flight communication needed for the operations).
Opening a wide field of new institutional and commercial applications and services based on the usage of UAS in and beyond line of sight.
Closing the gap between remote sensing data from Earth Observation satellites (spatial and temporal resolution) and in situ ground sensors by providing UAS:s as flexible tools with respect to spatial resolution (flight altitude), temporal resolution (revisit cycles), automation and endurance.