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1、Skies Without Limits v3.0September 2024Industry in FocusContentsSkies Without Limits v3.01Section 1 Overview2Introduction3Growth and Commercial Volume3Unlocking Drone Potential3UK Versus the Rest of the World4Changes in the UK Approach4Conclusion4Section 2 Methodology5Section 3 Organisation Summarie

2、s7Maritime and Coastguard Agency(Surveillance)9Windracers(Middle Mile Delivery)10Manna(Last Mile Delivery)11sees.ai(BVLOS Inspection)12Cyberhawk(Inspection)13Auto Spray Systems and Drone Ag(Agriculture)14Environment Agency(Survey)15Team UAV(Internal Inspection)16Plowman Craven(Survey)17PwC(Inventory

3、 Audit)18Section 4 Observations on Barriers to Growth19Perception20Regulation21Technology24Implementation26Skills28Section 5 Case Studies29Teaming Manned and Unmanned to Deliver Effective Search and Rescue in UK Waters31New Logistics Using Existing Infrastructure to Connect Communities33Food,Parcel

4、and Medical“Last-mile”Delivery,Could We Go a Little Faster?36Remote Piloting Paving the Way for Autonomous BVLOS40The Criticality of Integrating Drones with Business-as-Usual42Automating Traditional Agricultural Practices46Rapid Response at Times of Environmental Crisis50Reducing Leaks with Smart So

5、lutions52Highly Accurate Drones Keeping Passengers and Engineers Safe and Minimising Commuting Delays55Digital Transformation in Stockpile Auditing58Contact601Skies Without Limits v3.0An insight into the progress of the UK drone industry from the perspective of organisations featured in the Skies Wi

6、thout Limits v2.0 case studiesSkies Without Limits v3.01 Overview3Skies Without Limits v3.0IntroductionPwCs report“Skies Without Limits v2.0”1(SWL2)described the potential for drones to positively impact the UK economy by 2030.It noted that drones are often faster,safer,cheaper and better for the en

7、vironment than other options and that there were many barriers to overcome to unlock drone potential.In this report,we offer an insight into the progress(or otherwise)of the UK drone industry from 2021 to 2024,through the lens of ten exciting organisations featured in the SWL2 case studies,along wit

8、h PwC,which is an innovator and heavy user of drone services2.Drone applications range from BVLOS(Beyond Visual Line of Sight)surveillance and inspection to crop spraying and seeding,to last-mile delivery.Views on whether growth since 2021 has met expectations,and the level of progress against the p

9、otential barriers to growth identifiedin SWL23,are equally varied.Growth and Commercial VolumeA handful of organisations report faster than expected growth since 2021 and we have some enticing headlines such as daily BVLOS flights,routine BVLOS in unsegregated airspace,drones spraying chemicals and“

10、automotive-like”drone production in the UK.However,if we look behind the headlines we find a more nuanced situation:BVLOS is severely restricted,chemicalspraying is limited to uncontrolled substances and significant growth is usually driven by international rather than UK demand.None of the organisa

11、tions focusing on BVLOS consider they have achieved commercial volume4 in the UK and uncertainty about the timing of routine BVLOS operations in unsegregated airspace has,arguably,contributed to nervousness and funding challenges in the UK venture capital and private equity sectors.Unlocking Drone P

12、otentialWe asked the organisations to evaluate whether the barriers to growth identified in SWL2(Perception,Implementation,Technology,Regulation,Skills3)werelimiting their growth in 2021 and 2024.We used a simple RAG5 rating to capture the organisations perspectives:green indicated that the barrier

13、did not present any issues in terms of growth,amber some issues and red signalled a significant issue.Overall,we found a positive outlook with 60%of all 2024 barrier responses marked green and 35%amber.In terms of trend,44%of all barrier responses showed an improvement from 2021 to 2024,with 51%stay

14、ing the same.The most positive change is in Perception(client or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the solution)with more than 70%noting an improvement since 2021 and more than 90%marking it as green in 2024.This reflects the increased acceptance and normalisation of drone solutions.We f

15、ound that organisations which had faced regulatory challenges,such as BVLOS orchemical spraying,in 2021 often felt they had made themost progress.However,as mentioned above,this perceived progress did not enable them to reach commercial volume.Conversely,Regulation(the extent to which current regula

16、tions facilitate the solution)garnered the lowest percentage of green responses(27%).Around a fifth of respondents marked it red(issue),while the majority marked it as amber(indicating some issues).Most respondents viewed Regulation as unchanged during theperiod.Notably,this category also showed the

17、 only decline in trends from 2021 to 2024,with one organisations perception shifting from amber to red,leading them to focus investment offshore.This is not to suggest that no progress has been made;approximately a third of those marking it amber in 2024 viewed this as animprovement from red in 2021

18、.Another interesting finding was that a few organisations,particularly those innovating outside of BVLOS,gave the impression that they were in control of their own destiny and not constrained by the barriers to growth in 2021 or 2024.Their situations varied from facing internal funding challenges6 t

19、o experiencing no significant growth issues.We expand on Regulation and Perception and discussTechnology,Implementation and Skills in Section 3 below.1.Skies Without Limits v2.02.Although we view these entities as representative and the findings are predominantly as expected,11 is a small sample siz

20、e,results should be seen in this context and reading the full case studies in Section 5 is recommended3.Skies Without Limits v2.0,pages 6-104.Commercial volume refers to a drone solution that is sufficiently mature and has enough end client demand to result in a competitive market and profitable ope

21、rations.Forexample,in 2021 we could have said that VLOS oil and gas drone inspection was at commercial volume.5.RAG Red,Amber,Green status for the barriers to growth where green represents no issues,amber some issues and red indicates the barrier is an issue in terms of growth6.Internal funding chal

22、lenges may be viewed as a Perception issue,but not by the organisation that reported them who marked Perception green4Skies Without Limits v3.0UK Versus the Rest of the WorldWe asked organisations with international operations tocompare their experiences in the UK with those in other countries.A rec

23、urring theme was the UK regulators particularly risk-averse attitude,which the organisations believed contrasts with the rest of the world and slows down the realisation of drone benefits,especially in areas such as BVLOS and chemical spraying.Another theme was that the UK regulator appeared less co

24、mmercially focussed than other countries.Accordingly,many of the organisations that rely on BVLOS and/or prioritise growth have expanded by looking for opportunities outside the UK.Changes in the UK ApproachAs you might expect from the previous points,when we asked organisations about the changes th

25、ey wanted in the UK,they focused on regulations(BVLOS and chemical)and expressed a desire for a change in attitude towards risk,a commercial focus,and the simplification of flight permissions.Many of the organisations noted that the regulator had made progress and was planning further positive chang

26、es,such as SORA7 and pilot competence8.We note that the aviation regulators initiatives,outlined in the Future of Flight Action Plan9 are now better funded and resourced than ever before and will have a transformative impact when implemented.We also note continuing progress in areas including,but no

27、t limited to,digitisation(DiSCO10),further BVLOS sandbox trials11(including last-mile delivery)and that the next phase of the Future Flight Challenge will be focussed on commercialisation of these exciting new technologies.We continue to subscribe to the view that initiatives should be use-case led,

28、with resources focussed on applications that have the most compelling combination of end-client pull,benefits and risk profile.Refer to our 2023 paper with the Department of Science,Innovation and Technology(DSIT),Building Trust in Commercial Drones(BTiCD)12 and to Section 4,below.The responses also

29、 imply that that the UK should look to learn from other countries,particularly regarding attitude to risk,focus on commercialisation and,arguably,the foundational role that UTM13 could play in safely increasing drone operations14.ConclusionIn conclusion,although this limited sample suggests that the

30、 UK drone industry has made notable strides over the past three years,it has not advanced at the pace required to achieve the adoption curve that underpins the figures in SWL215.Quantifying this shift to the right is out of scope for this paper.The next sections outline our methodology,present a sum

31、mary of organisation responses and examine recurring themes in the PwC barrier to growth categories of Perception,Regulation,Technology,Implementation and Skills.The final section presents the case studies,and we extend our sincere thanks to the organisations for participating in this paperDisclaime

32、r:This document is based on the responses received from the organisations,with the opinions expressed being solely those of the respective respondents unless stated otherwise.Please note that the references are intended to be illustrative rather than exhaustive.7.CAA Specific Operations Risk Assessm

33、ent Update8.CAA Pilot competence,the future Remote Pilot Competence(RPC)scheme9.DfT Future of Flight Action Plan10.CAA Digitising Specific Category Operations(DiSCO)project overview,also PDRA-01 tool11.CAA New trials set to help unlock drone deliveries and inspections in the UK12.DSIT and PwC,Buildi

34、ng Trust in Commercial Drones13.Unmanned or Uncrewed Traffic Management(not“Unified”in this paper)14.Refer to Section 4,Technology which notes that some countries view UTM as foundational tech15.Skies Without Limits v2.0,pages 2,6,54-562Methodology6Skies Without Limits v3.0SWL2,in collaboration with

35、 DSIT and DfT,described the potential for drones topositively impact the UK economy by2030.It noted that drones are often faster,safer,cheaper and better for the environment than other options and that there were many barriers to overcome to unlock drone potential.SWL2 noted 5 potential barriers to

36、growth16:We asked the organisations whether these perceived barriers to growth were an issue in 2021 and whether this had changed in 2024.We used a simple RAG(red,amber,green)format:green(no issue),red(issue),and amber(some issues).We asked a range of other questions in areas including achievements,

37、business profile,limiting factors,BVLOS significance,views on UTM17 and whether their business was at commercial volume18.Another key question for some organisations was whether their UK business wasperforming differently compared to their international business.PerceptionClient or stakeholder attit

38、udes to,and openness towards the solutionImplementationSuccess in integrating the solution with business as usualRegulationDegree to which current regulations facilitate the solutionTechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropr

39、iate mix of skills in the market16.Skies Without Limits v2.0,pages 6-1017.Unmanned or Uncrewed Traffic Management(not“Unified”in this paper)18.Commercial volume refers to a drone solution is sufficiently mature and has enough end client demand to result in a competitive market and profitable operati

40、ons.For example,in 2021 we could have said that VLOS oil and gas drone inspection was at commercial volume.3Organisation Summaries8Skies Without Limits v3.0Summary of Barriers to Growth StatusBarrier and RAG definitions in the Methodology section above.Arrow indicates trend from 2021 to 2024.MCA is

41、Maritime and Coastguard Agency,EA is Environment Agency and PC is Plowman Craven.This section summarises the case study updates,refer to Section 5 for the full version.BarrierPerceptionImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreYesYesYesYesPartialNoNoNoNoNoNoPrime use caseSurveillanceMiddleMi

42、leLastMileInspectionInspection Agriculture AgricultureSurveyInspectionSurveySurveyTerritoryUKGlobalGlobalUKGlobalUK GlobalUKUKUKGlobalMCAWindracersMannasees.aiCyberhawkAuto SprayDrone AgEATeam UAVPCPwC9Skies Without Limits v3.0Maritime and Coastguard Agency(Surveillance)Daily BVLOS for surveillanceS

43、WL2 case studyThe Maritime and Coastguard Agency(MCA)has made significant strides since 2021 and are now conducting daily BVLOS surveillance missions in the English Channel through their supplier Bristows.Despite these advancements,regulatory constraints continue to limit their coverage area,operati

44、ng hours,and ability to respond swiftly to emergencies.MCA is actively advocating for regulatory changes and a shift in risk mindset to enable effective BVLOS emergency responses throughout their patrol area.The most notable barrier to growth from 2021 to 2024 isregulation,which has remained flat an

45、d marked red,indicating it was and still is a significant issue.BarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreYesPrime use caseSurveillanceTerritoryUKGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update10Skies Without Limits v3.0W

46、indracers(Middle Mile Delivery)“Automotive-like”drone manufacturing in the UKSWL2 case studyWindracers has made considerable progress since 2021,leveraging their UK achievements to seize international opportunities in both military and commercial sectors.They believe the Ukraine war has shifted the

47、UAV market from a question of“if”to“when,”driving increased international demand and enabling them to establish an automotive-style production facility in the UK.However,progress within the UK has been slower,prompting Windracers to urge regulators to expedite the approval process for BVLOS operatio

48、ns,especially those with strong end-customer demand in sparsely populated areas.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024 include an improvement in perception from amber to green and regulation from red to amber.BarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreYesPrime

49、 use caseMiddle MileTerritoryGlobalGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update11Skies Without Limits v3.0Manna(Last Mile Delivery)Last mile drone delivery with“positive unit economics”SWL2 case studyManna has made significant progress in techn

50、ology,regulation,and market penetration since 2021,with“positive unit economics”claimed.However,they are unable to operate in the UK due to more restrictive regulations compared to countries like Ireland and the USA.There is also uncertainty about whether Mannas positive perception of delivery drone

51、s would hold true in the UK,as delivery drones were among the least supported use cases in the 2023 Building Trust in Commercial Drones(BTiCD)19 report.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024 show perception,implementation,and technology improving to green.19.PwC and DSIT,Building Trus

52、t in Commercial DronesBarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreYesPrime use caseLast MileTerritoryGlobalGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update12Skies Without Limits v3.0Sees.ai(BVLOS Inspection)Regular BVLOS ins

53、pection in unsegregated airspaceSWL2 case studySince 2021,sees.ai has successfully implemented routine inspections of powerlines using remotely piloteddrones.They secured the UKs first permissiontoconduct regular BVLOS flights in non-segregated airspace,facilitated by strong end-client demand.Howeve

54、r,growth has been constrained by capital availability.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024 show all categories trending up,with regulation improving to amber.BarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreYesPrime use caseInspectionTerritoryUKGo to Section 5 to

55、read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update13Skies Without Limits v3.0Cyberhawk(Inspection)More than 100%drone service providergrowthSWL2 case studyCyberhawk has seen impressive progress over the past three years,with global revenue increasing by more than 100%f

56、rom 2021 to 2023 and headcount reaching around 200.Cyberhawk is arguably more focussed on Implementation than most and we can speculate that this was a key part of their success.However,growth has been driven primarily by the US and Middle East,as they feel constrained by the UKs regulatory approach

57、,which they consider has become less progressive since 2021.Despite this,they are optimistic about the UKs new regulatory direction and believe that BVLOS could help reduce costs in the UK as it has in the USA.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024 show a change in regulation from amb

58、er to red.BarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS corePartialPrime use caseInspectionTerritoryUKGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update14Skies Without Limits v3.0Auto Spray Systems and Drone Ag(Agriculture)Spraying

59、and seeding in the UKSWL2 case studyScanning,spraying,and seeding are now a reality in the UK,thanks to progress made by Auto Spray Systems,Drone Ag,and others with the CAA and CRD(Chemicals Regulation Directorate)over the past three years.Although operations are currently small-scale,there is subst

60、antial potential to grow the market and contribute to UK food security with more approved chemicals and simplified flight permissions.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024 show improvements in technology to green for both,with regulation amber,an improvement for Auto Spray and flat f

61、or Drone Ag.BarrierAuto Spray SystemsDrone AgPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreNoNoPrime use caseAgricultureAgricultureTerritoryUKGlobalGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update15Skies Without Limits v3.0Environmen

62、t Agency(Survey)Expanding internal drone useSWL2 case studyThe Environment Agency(EA)has continued to operate a 24/7,365-day flood response service through a vendor.Since 2021,the EA has significantly increased itsnumber of pilots and developed additional use cases.They have integrated drones from a

63、 project-based approach into their routine operations.The primary growth challenges faced by the EA are internal rather than external.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024 show all categories remaining flat,with regulation staying at amber.BarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRe

64、gulationSkillsBVLOS coreNoPrime use caseSurveyTerritoryUKGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update16Skies Without Limits v3.0Team UAV(Internal Inspection)Developing inspection in confined spacesSWL2 case studyTeam UAV has increased focus on

65、internal inspections in confined spaces,driven by the ability to bypass many regulatory obstacles,enhance safety,and provide valuable data.Despite this transition suggesting largely unimpeded growth,they face challenges such as skill shortages and clients forming their own drone teams.They believe B

66、VLOS operations in unsegregated airspace would enable them to expand their business in the UK.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024 show regulation marked green due to their focus on VLOS and internaldrones20 and skills marked red.20.Not subject to the same regulations as external dr

67、onesBarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreNoPrime use caseInspectionTerritoryUKGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update17Skies Without Limits v3.0Plowman Craven(Survey)Evolution of high accuracy solutionsSWL2 c

68、ase studyPlowman Craven achieved remarkable accuracy in surveying railways in 2021,delivering significant safety,cost,and efficiency benefits.They are the only respondent to consider all barriers to growth as green in both 2021 and 2024,reflecting a company that believes it is in control of its own

69、destiny.They view drone solutions as complementary to their traditional land survey business rather than an end in themselves.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024 show all categories remaining flat and green.BarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreNoPrime

70、 use caseSurveyTerritoryUKGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update18Skies Without Limits v3.0PwC(Inventory Audit)Integration of drones with business asusualSWL2 case studyPwC has been a pioneer in using drones for inventory auditing since 2

71、018.Since 2021,they have fully integrated drones into their business operations,expanded the scope of inventory covered,and deliveredservices internationally.They have also adopted a flexible approach to aerial data,incorporatingsatellite capture.Notable views on barriers to growth from 2021 to 2024

72、 show improvements in perception and implementation togreen.BarrierPerception ImplementationTechnologyRegulationSkillsBVLOS coreNoPrime use caseSurveyTerritoryGlobalGo to Section 5 to read the full case study updateGo to Section 5 to read the full case study update4Observations on Barriers to Growth

73、20Skies Without Limits v3.0PerceptionClient or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the drone solutionIn our discussion of barriers to growth in the first section,we noted that the most positive change is in Perception,with over 70%reporting an improvement since 2021 and more than 90%markin

74、g it as green.This reflects increased openness to drones.Organisations facing regulatory challenges in 2021,like BVLOS or chemical spraying(Windracers,Manna,sees.ai,Auto Spray),felt they had made the most Perception progress,but have not achieved commercial volume.This mirrors the findings in our 20

75、23 Building Trust in Commercial Drones(BTiCD)21 paper,where more than 80%of respondents thought that drones would be beneficial to their industry and positive feeling about commercial drones increased from 56%in 2019 to 72%in 2022.However,in SWL2,we stated thatWith practically zero of the potentiall

76、y more intrusive usecases(last-mile delivery,drone-in-a-box)in the UK,one could argue that this point has still not been tested.If we consider the Windracers(middle-mile)and Manna(last-mile)delivery applications,the companies themselves report very positive end-client perception,implying Perception

77、may not be an issue.Manna say:However,there are some international examples where delivery drones have not been positively received,including a campaign in an Australian suburb of Canberra to ban Wings delivery drones,which was ultimately successful22.However,this may be a blip Wing were one of the

78、exemplars we mentioned in SWL2 and claim“350K+commercial deliveries across 3 continents,”to date,with recent advances including a one pilot to 50 drones ratio24.Although many thought that negative Public Perception could limit the adoption of drone technology,to date,it has not been a significant ba

79、rrier to growth in Commercial Drone applications such as Inspection and Survey.Public Perception is likely to be a much more significant point when Last Mile Delivery of parcels and food starts to gain momentum and,to a lesser extent,when Drone-in-a-Box use cases such as security monitoring emerge.”

80、Consumer surveys have indicated positive sentiment towards drone delivery for many years(88%+of consumers are in favour of the service).Over the past 3 years,we have seen increased levels of acceptance and a sense of inevitability across investors and the business community that drone delivery will

81、be part of the fabric of modern society in thenear future.”21.PwC and DSIT Building Trust in Commercial Drones22.Guardian,10th August 2024,What opposition to delivery drones shows about big techs respect for democracy23.W,as at September 202424.Guardian,25th August 2024,We dont stop for red lights:d

82、rone deliveries take off as Australian regulators prepare for air traffic boom.21Skies Without Limits v3.0Degree to which current regulations facilitate your solutionThere was a contrast to Perception in the Regulationcategory which had the lowest percentage of green responses(27%)and the highest pr

83、oportion of reds(onefifth).More than half of the organisations considered Regulation flat from 2021 to 2024,but this included three that viewed it as green(Team UAV,Plowman Craven,PwC).These organisations,innovating outside of BVLOS,felt fully in control and unconstrained by this potential barrier t

84、o growth.In contrast,one organisation(Cyberhawk)reported the only deterioration in barriers to growth status;they felt that regulations were more challenging in the UK in 2024 than 2021 and much more complex than,say,the USA.The only organisation flying daily BVLOS(MCA)marked a red in Regulation,due

85、 to restrictions around their BVLOS operations which limited scope and did not enable them to respond to emergencies.This is not to say there has been no progress,several organisations(Windracers,Manna,sees.ai,Auto Spray)marked progress from red in 2021 to amber in 2024.There were positive words abo

86、ut Regulation in several of the responses,including excitement about the potential for SORA25 to simplify matters(Cyberhawk,Manna),pilot certification26(EA),spraying and seeding(Auto Spray,covering both CAA and CRD).Auto Spray say:RegulationThe biggest changes,since the report was released,have been

87、 in the accessibility of the CAA and HSE/CRD.The CAA have been very responsive to our evolving licencing requirements and we have engaged very deeply with HSE/CRD on PPP27 authorisations and are making good progress.”25.CAA Specific Operations Risk Assessment Update26.CAA Pilot competence,the future

88、 Remote Pilot Competence(RPC)scheme27.Plant Protection Products or pesticides,HSE22Skies Without Limits v3.0That said,when we factor in the international comparison,the overwhelming impression given by organisations which operate abroad is that the UK is somewhat behind the rest of the world with a

89、more conservative approach to risk and a more complex and lengthy process for obtaining permissions.Cyberhawk say:When it comes to BVLOS in the UK then,we are reminded of the quote from the 2021 Regulatory Horizons Council report we used in SWL2 which still applies:Regulations were also a primary co

90、ncern in BTiCD,with the vast majority of respondents mentioning this topic in their responses,despite it not being a direct question.In fact,progress on regulation was the most requested action,more than four-fifths of respondents listing it among their top three actions.However as we noted in Secti

91、on 1,there are a plethora of initiatives in the Future of Flight Action Plan28 and the CAA is considerably better funded and resourced than it was in 2021;we could argue that optimism and confidence is high.Progress could,perhaps,be accelerated by a use-case led approach and,in Section 1,we suggeste

92、d that regulatory resources should be focussed on applications that have the most compelling combination of end-client pull,benefits and risk profile and other applications following later.We reached a similar conclusion in the BTiCD report.BVLOS,however,remains“largely experimental”(Regulatory Hori

93、zons Council)and quite some distance from the Routine BVLOS required to unlock the projections in this report.It is also noted that the existing process for obtaining BVLOS permission is time consuming and there are opportunities for the CAA to increaseautomation and resourcing inthis area.”28.DfT F

94、uture of Flight Action PlanRegulatory oversight in the UK is not as progressive as other regions such as the US.Permissions we have held for over 15 years are now being eroded in the UK and we have gone backwards in some areas.Conversely,the ability to operate in atypical airspace in the US has acce

95、lerated our BVLOS operations and demonstrated a clear path to scaling our operations and delivering cost reductions.There is a clear difference in who is accountable for risk between the UK and US.In the UK it feels like the CAA own the risk whereas in the US the operator holds the majority of the r

96、isk.For example,we applied for a countrywide BVLOS permission in the US(in atypical airspace)and the submission was 50 pages and took 2 months to gain approval.In the UK our routing submission for an operational authorisation is 1600 pages.5 months on we are working through the CAA Oversight Report.

97、”23Skies Without Limits v3.0Consider these points from Windracers which touch on relative risk and end-client pull:Finally for this section,our understanding is that uncertainty around the timing and complexity of routine BVLOS operations has contributed(though it is by no means the sole issue)to fu

98、nding challenges in the venture capital and private equity sectors.Examples may include sees.ai and Flylogix29.Windracers would like to see that regulatory regimes for BVLOS operations of larger UAVs in all markets focus on low-populated areas.Setting rules for these areas would enable consistent BV

99、LOS operation with lower risk(compared to operations over populated areas)and provide delivery services to populations that have not equivalent access and cost as those in populated areas”“There is a true commercial need in the Orkney Islands and many other areas across the world for faster delivery

100、 of non-urgent parcel,post and cargoIf changes can foster more regular BVLOS operation of larger UAVs,a new market for delivery routine services could be created and the commercial use cases could be better understood and served.”29.Energy Voice,Flylogix:BP-backed drone firm lands in administration2

101、4Skies Without Limits v3.0TechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionViews on Technology are positive overall,with 64%green and the balance amber,but the majority(55%)view this as flat from 2021.The techs we highlighted in SWL2 were UTM(Unmanned rather than

102、unified Traffic Management,including Electronic Conspicuity(EC),Detect and Avoid(DAA),autonomy and infrastructure with honourable mentions for batteries/fuel cells,sensors,swarming and touch.If we drill into UTM,intrinsically linked to Regulationsand the subject of one of the discrete questions we a

103、sked the organisations,we find a range of views.Global evidence suggests that UTM is an important factor in maximising drone adoption,refer to the PwC paper30 on this topic which finds that UTM has a“pivotal role in enabling the drone sector”.When we asked the organisations“Do you feel that UTM tech

104、nologies are required for UK BVLOS drone operations?”,we had a wide range of answers which,perhaps,offer some insight into the UK approach to UTM.Unsurprisingly,organisations with mainly VLOS operations were usually neutral on this point.Organisations with BVLOS-dependent businesses,ranged from very

105、 strong advocacy such as Manna:To equivocal support.sees.ai say:Windracers say:30.PwC Strategic Insights for Thriving in the Unmanned Traffic Ecosystem31.Federal Aviation AdministrationUTM technologies are crucial for UK BVLOS drone operations.The integration of Unmanned Traffic Management(UTM)syste

106、ms is essential for managing the increased air traffic volume associated with BVLOS operations.These technologies ensure that drones can operate safely and efficiently alongside both unmanned and manned aircraft,preventing collisions and facilitating smooth traffic flow.Additionally,UTM systems supp

107、ort regulatory compliance by providing the necessary infrastructure for monitoring and controlling drone flights,which is vital in the UKs densely populated and complex airspace.Our experience with UTM initiatives in the United States,including participation in the FAAs31 shared airspace implementat

108、ion programme,underscores the importance of these technologies.Implementing UTM systems will enable more reliable and scalable BVLOS operations,promoting the growth of the drone industry and enhancing our operational capabilities by ensuring safety,efficiency,and regulatory adherence.”UTM means diff

109、erent things to different people;is just one of many technologies that contribute to BVLOS;and definitely not the most importanttoday.”a straight UTM only tool,may not add that much benefit.”25Skies Without Limits v3.032.2023 figure of 668,786 is here(in Polish).The 2023 figures include 23.5K BLVOS

110、flights(NSTS-05 to NSTS-08 at the linked page are BVLOS missions and NSTS is the acronym for National Standard Scenarios)33.Altitude Angel,Project Skyway34.CAA CAP2966,AI Terminology Paper35.Deterministic AI is usually defined as an AI system where the same inputs will always result in the same outp

111、uts,it is not the same as,say,generative AI where the same inputs can result in different outputs36.PwC and FFC Advanced Air Mobility UK Economic Impact Study37.BT,BT connects the skies with the UKs first Drone SimIt appears that,in the UK,UTM is seen as part of a suite of measures to facilitate rou

112、tine BLVOS rather than a foundational technology which,when deployed and mandated,has the potential to simplify and accelerate drone adoption,including BVLOS.The Future of Flight Action Plan has UTM trialled in 2024 and regulations governing UTM in place by 2026.Consider the approach in Poland where

113、 UTM was deployed in 2020 and is viewed as a core element of their progress.We could consider this“build it and they will come”,with almost 700K operations in 2023,of which around 23.5K were BVLOS32,routinely approved in Poland in segregated airspace.While it is true that Polish airspace is rather l

114、ess complex and involved than UK airspace,there are,perhaps,lessons to be learned from their approach,not least the importance they attached to UTM as a foundational tech.DAA and EC feature in the Future of Flight action plan with ground-based DAA certifiable in 2024,on-board DAA and EC certifiable

115、by 2025.We note that the Future Flight Challenge(FFC)Phase 3 Skyway project33,a 165 mile drone superhighway with BVLOS in unsegregated airspace plans,includes ground-based DAA from consortium lead Altitude Angel.Regarding autonomy,the CAAs AI team has done some positive initial work on the definitio

116、ns34.Although AI is not required for autonomy,the approach the regulator adopts to certify AI-dependent systems,even if limited to deterministic AI35,is likely to be critical to the growth of the drone industry.Thorough AI testing and robust cybersecurity measures are expected to be crucial in safel

117、y enabling higher volumes of drones,Advanced Air Mobility(AAM)and commercial aviation.This cybersecurity must cover the entire digital ecosystem and distributed ledger technology such as blockchain could play a significant role.Refer also to our paper on the potential socioeconomic impact of AAM on

118、the UK economy36.We understand that there has been little progress in terms of drone physical infrastructure since 2021 but BTs announcement in 2023 of the UKs first Drone SIM37indicates progress in one element of the digital infrastructure required for routine BVLOS.In a similar manner to Perceptio

119、n,digital and physical infrastructure will only become significant challenges when there is a step increase in drone flights,perhaps driven by last-mile delivery drones.Lastly for this section,we will refer again to SWL2,linking back to the international commentary in the Regulation section:There is

120、 also a view that much of the drone technology required to realise the potential for drone productivity benefits is already here,proven in trials,and that the limiting factor is the approach taken in the UK,compared to othercountries.”26Skies Without Limits v3.0ImplementationClient or stakeholder su

121、ccess in integrating the solution with business asusualWhen we look at Implementation we have a mixed picture with 45%amber and 55%green,although the majority are trending up(64%)and the balance are flat.One organisation(Cyberhawk),arguably more focussed on this element than most,has grown by more t

122、han 100%from 2021 to 2023 and we can speculate that this was a part of this success.Other organisations have,perhaps,set the bar lower and marked Implementationgreen even when only sending data such as raw files and/or pdfs,as that is what their client asks them for.This latter point could help to e

123、xplain the higher-than-expected number of green scores in this category.Alternatively,this could reflect the different integration challenges associated with drone solutions that are not rooted in land survey or inspection,such as crop spraying and delivery.In SWL2,we noteSuccessful drone implementa

124、tion then,necessitates a precise focus on capturing fit-for-purpose drone data and integrating it with business as usual.We often describe this as“starting at the end”;not turning a propeller until there is a crystal-clear understanding of the specification of data capture required,how it will be pr

125、ocessed into actionable information and how the information will be shared or integrated with business asusual.This is captured in our 4-step drone workflow(below)which remains as relevant now as it was when we first drafted it in 2018.Refer also to the Cyberhawkcase study.Simply flying a drone,capt

126、uring sensor data such as images and even processing this into 2D and 3D models is not enough to realise the potential of drone-powered solutions.Drone information must be fit-for-purpose and integrated with business-as-usual workflows and IT systems.One of the issues with implementing drones in an

127、organisation is that the implementation is often considered“box ticked”when a vendor is selected or pilots are trained and drones are purchased but this is only part of the story and,arguably,the easiest part.Effective drone implementations require a disciplined focus on capturing data that is of th

128、e appropriate quality,processing this data into actionable information that meets or exceeds existing information requirements,intuitively sharing the information with all stakeholders and integrating it with business as usual.In other words,effective drone implementation is not about buying service

129、s,training pilots and buying kit,its about engaging all relevant stakeholders in a change programme.”27Skies Without Limits v3.01234PermissionCaptureProcessingSharingAll required authorisations are place for the mission.Considerations include VLOS,EVLOS,BLVOS and congested area operations.Pilot capa

130、bility and currency system selection and maintenance validation.Flight planning,Risk Assessment and Method Statement mobilisation.Drone is flown in accordance with the plan and applicable regulations.Data(image,lidar,etc)is captured and uploadedConversation from data to actionable information.Usuall

131、y commoditised photogrammetry software for survey deliverables.Inspection deliverable processing may include computer vision AI,usually significant manual engineering.Processed information is shared with the client.Ranges from PDF documents to interactive cloud-based Visual Asset Management(VAM)solu

132、tions.Client systems integration is key,both existing processes and system such as BIM and ERP.Fleet management swProcessing swVAM swVLOS Visual Line of Sight;EVLOS Extended Visual Line of Sight;BVLOS Beyond Visual Line of Sight;BIM Building information Modelling:ERP Enterprise Resource Planning;sw

133、software28Skies Without Limits v3.0SkillsAbility to find the appropriate mix of skills in the marketSkills in 2024 have been marked green by the majority(64%),with the balance finding issues or some issues finding qualified staff.There has been little change from 2021 to 2024,with more than four-fif

134、ths of organisations marking Skills the same in both years.However,the lack of significant issues is likely due to lower-than-expected growth rather than the core issue being resolved.BTiCD highlighted that qualifications were crucial,and one organisation was encouraged by the CAAs initiative to off

135、er varied levels of pilot training.EA say:Often the organisations which appeared to have the most growth reported the most issues with obtaining Skills and had to develop their own:Manna say:Cyberhawk say:We can speculate that finding the right skills will become increasingly challenging as regulato

136、ry initiatives boost the volume of drone use.Reasons include other technologies such as(non-aviation)AI competing for candidates and an overall shortfall in the STEM pipeline which the Institute of Engineering and Technology estimated at 173K in 202238.We note that the FFC are one entity addressing

137、this through their“Closing the Skills Gaps”cohort39.We are supportive of the proposed new levels(1 4)for drone operator qualifications.In addition a qualification for an assessor,who could re-asses in-house pilots that fall out of currency,could be useful for organisations like the EA with multiple

138、drone operators.”Acquiring specialised skills in drone manufacturing,unmanned aviation engineering,and AI technology has been a continuous challenge,particularly in local markets.However,we have made strides by implementing targeted training programs and forming strategic partnerships to attract and

139、 retain top talent in these emerging fields.”It has not proved easy to hire experienced pilots that can operate to the standard we expect.As a result we tend to train pilots from scratch.There are not many in the UK with the strong regulatory knowledge required to obtain BVLOS permissions.Engineerin

140、g resource has also proved a challenge.”38.Engineering and Technology,Government urged to plug STEM skills gap at earliest school age39.Innovate UK,Future Flight Challenge announces“Closing the skills gap”cohort5Case Studies30Skies Without Limits v3.0IndexOriginal Case StudyUpdateOrganisationTeaming

141、 Manned and Unmanned to Deliver Effective Search And Rescue in UK WatersDaily BVLOS for surveillanceMaritime and Coastguard AgencyNew Logistics Using Existing Infrastructure to Connect CommunitiesAutomotive-like drone manufacturing in the UKWindracersFood,Parcel and Medical“Last Mile”Delivery Could

142、We Go a Little Faster?Last-mile drone delivery with positive unit economicsMannaRemote Piloting Paving the WayforAutonomous BVLOSRegular BVLOS inspection in unsegregated airspacesees.aiThe Criticality of Integrating Drones with Business As UsualMore than 100%drone service provider growthCyberhawk Au

143、tomating Traditional Agricultural PracticesSpraying and seeding in the UKAuto Spray Systems/Rapid Response at Times of Environmental CrisisExpanding internal drone useEnvironment AgencyReducing Leaks with Smart SolutionsDeveloping inspection in confined spacesTeam UAVHighly Accurate Drones Keeping P

144、assengers and Engineers Safe And Minimising Commuting DelaysEvolution of high accuracy solutionsPlowman CravenDigital Transformation in StockpileAuditingIntegration of drones with business as usualPwCDrone Ag31Skies Without Limits v3.0Teaming Manned and Unmanned to Deliver Effective Search and Rescu

145、e in UK WatersSurveillance/BVLOS/Maritime and Coastguard AgencyOriginal Case StudyThe Maritime and Coastguard Agency(MCA)has made substantial progress since 2021 and is currently conducting daily BVLOS surveillance missions in the English Channel via their supplier Bristow.While this is impressive,t

146、here are regulatory constraints that significantly restrict the coverage area,operating hours,and rapid emergency response capabilities.The MCA is advocating for changes in regulations and risk mindset to enable the use of BVLOS for swift emergency responses throughout their patrol area.Drone survei

147、llance drones replace manned aircraft for surveillance tasks,with equivalent IO/IR(Electro-Optical/Infra-Red)sensors.Comparison vs helicoptersFasterNot faster but may have 2xfight endurance(vs helicopter)SaferMass,no pilots onboard.Cheaper10%of the hourly depreciation and fuel costsEnvironment10%fue

148、l consumption(lower emission fuel)32Skies Without Limits v3.0The MCA have taken some big steps since SWL240.They advise that they are safely and effectively operating manned and unmanned aircraft in close proximity and flying BVLOS daily,including at night.Their supplier(Bristow)has obtained airwort

149、hiness certification for the Schiebel S-100 drone.The challenge is that the daily BVLOS is based on a TDA(Temporary Danger Area)centred around Lydd.The space covered is a fraction(less than 0.1%41)of the MCAs total patrol area and the TDA approach has many limitations,including a cut-off time.It is

150、also not possible for the MCA to quickly obtain flight permission for emergencies which limits drone use to routine patrol of the TDA area.These factors collectively contribute to Regulation still being regarded as an issue(flat red),see below.We have upward trends in Perception and Implementation b

151、ut there is still work to do(amber).Perception has improved internally but public perception can be challenging.In terms of Implementation,although BVLOS is BAU(Business as Usual),the rest of the organisation hasnotembraced drones as much as it could have.Non-aviation staff are“scared off”by the pap

152、erwork andmany expect drones and analytics to be moreautonomous.Technology is flat(amber).Significant gaps remain in the effective development of drone Detect and Avoid(DAA)systems and Unmanned Traffic Management(UTM)solutions.Additionally,the lack of progress by General Aviation in improving Electr

153、onic Conspicuity(EC)has been identified as a potential technological barrier to the growth of BVLOS.It could be argued thatthese issues are as much Regulation as Technologyissues.Finishing with a positive,the MCA remains confident that they have the Skills required to get the most out of drones(flat

154、 green).The change the MCA want to see in UK drone operations is clear:they want BVLOS in unsegregated airspace to give them the“ability to perform time critical missions and tasks.”Their primary concerns include the CAA adopting a more proportionate approach to risk,especially in relation to short-

155、notice BVLOS operations,and obtaining clear guidelines from the CAA on the necessary steps to expand the scope of BVLOS operations,such as operating drones under state aircraftregulations.40.PwC and DSIT,Skies Without Limits v2.041.UK Search and Rescue region is approximately 2 million square miles,

156、Lydd TDA is approximately 1,000 square milesPotential barrier to growthTrend2024Perception Client or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the solutionImplementationSuccess in integrating the solution with business as usualTechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilit

157、ate the solutionRegulationDegree to which current regualtions facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropriate mix of skills in the marketChange from 2021 and 2024 status,red indicates and issue and green no issue33Skies Without Limits v3.0New Logistics Using Existing Infrastructure to C

158、onnect CommunitiesDelivery/Middle-mile/WindracersOriginal Case StudyWindracers have made remarkable progress since 2021,leveraging their UK achievements to capitalise on international opportunities in both military and commercial sectors.They believe that the Ukraine war has shifted the UAV market f

159、rom a question of“if”to“when”.This surge in international demand has enabled Windracers to transition from“lab to life”and has led them to establish an“automotive-like”production facility in the UK.Progress within the UK has been more gradual.Windracers would like UK regulators to expedite the appro

160、val process for Beyond Visual Line of Sight(BVLOS)operations,especially those with strong endcustomer demand which fly over sparsely populatedareas.Drone delivery,middle mile mid weight(up to 350kg)packages are delivered from staging point to staging point,e.g.airport to depot.Comparison vs manned a

161、irfreight(drones are more expensive than road freight)FasterSlower than manned aircraft,more trips required for bulkSaferUnmanned,lower massCheaperCheaper per trip,may be cheaper for bulk transport,e.g.35%42EnvironmentSignificantly less fuel used,lower polluting fuel but more trips for bulk42.PwC an

162、d UKRI,Future Flight Challenge Socio-economic Study34Skies Without Limits v3.0Since 2021,Windracers most significant achievement has been transitioning their business from“lab to life.”They have advanced from a concept aircraft that completed several BVLOS trials in the UK to a fully developed enter

163、prise,manufacturing drones on a commercial scale and expanding production to meetgrowing demand from international customers andprospects.One of the drivers for this is the Ukraine war.Windracers say:Windracers optimism is evident in their assessment of growth barriers.Perception(up green)has improv

164、ed to the extent that it is no longer a concern.This is not surprising for a startup that has successfully navigated the challenging transition to commercial scale.It is particularly impressive given that their business relies on BVLOS operations,a model others have struggled with.Windracers say:Imp

165、lementation has also improved(up amber);however,the evolving nature of the technology means that clients are still adapting their existing systems to integrate these new solutions.As mentioned earlier,the company believes that“multi-mission”capabilitiesdelivery,drop,and detectionare the optimal use

166、of their drones,which increases the complexity of integrating drone operations with regular business activities.This will not stop Windracers striving to be“the Jeep of the sky.”Windracers believe that Technology has not progressed since 2021(flat amber)and still has some way to go before it ceases

167、to be a barrier to growth.This underscores opportunities for advancements in areas such as autonomy(including DAA and swarming)and UTM.However,there is a nuanced perspective on whether UTM is necessary for BVLOS,perhaps reflecting a healthy scepticism influenced by the middle-mile viewpoint.When ask

168、ed whether UTM is required for BVLOS in the UK,Windracers state:With the Ukraine war,there has been a general acceptance that drone technology will play a role in all areas of transportation.As Windracers ULTRA is deployed in Ukraine and has carried out missions for other organizations,what has also

169、 become apparent is the need for multi-mission capability of UAV platforms.Windracers ULTRA has been designed to carry out 3 core use cases deliver,drop and detect so that one ULTRA can carry out multiple missions depending on customer need.”Unlike others in the same space,Windracers has moved well

170、beyond prototype and is operating on 3 continents and in a wide range ofenvironments.”UTMs would provide a potential way forward for this,providing they can integrate easily into existing methods for airspace coordination.Typical operations for Windracers aircraft in UK Airspace is in two categories

171、 or phases:Local to Aerodromes(e.g.VLOS flights for testing purposes,or departure/arrival from operations that transit regions for logistics purposes)and BVLOS transit routes between Aerodromes.These have two different altitude considerations,but primarily all BVLOS phases of flight occur at above 1

172、000ft,meaning a straight UTM only tool,may not add that much benefit.”35Skies Without Limits v3.0It is noteworthy that UK-based Windracers is collaborating with a US university(Purdue University)on“bringing more AI enablement into making the operation of their ULTRA drone more efficient and lower co

173、st”.They are also collaborating with the University of Bristol on swarming technology43.As with most BVLOS-dependent use cases,Regulation has progressed(up amber).The company appears to be more understanding and positive than many regarding the actions of the regulator,although they acknowledge that

174、 further progress is needed.Windracers say:We will close with the changes Windracers would like to see in the UK.They suggest that regulatory regimes for BVLOS operations of larger UAVs in all markets should focus on low-populated areas which have clear end-client demand.Establishing rules for such

175、areas would enable consistent BVLOS operations with lower risk(compared to operations over densely populated areas)and provide delivery services to populations that lack the same access and cost benefits as those in more densely populated areas.Windracers state:43.BBC,Drone swarms could stop wildfir

176、es,researchers sayRegulation has always been a challenge as the regulators,quite appropriately,are moving cautiously.As we are operating in the UK and other markets,Windracers has seen significant progress in the UK and noted that some countries are moving faster to establish regulatory frameworks t

177、han others to enable consistent BVLOS operation of larger UAVs.In Windracers view,the countries that are moving faster to establish regulations that enable BVLOSoperation of larger UAVs see a commercial competitive advantage in moving forward with a more permissive regulatory regime.While limited Be

178、yond Visual Line of Sight(BVLOS)permissions have been obtained,unlocking the use case,additional regulatory progress is still required.”Windracers believe that the driver for change should come from those places where there is true commercial need.As an example,from our experience in operating in th

179、e Orkney Islands,we understand that currently it takes days for Amazon packages to arrive to people in that area whereas for people in London,it takes hours,sometimes even the same day.There is a true commercial need in the Orkney Islands and many other areas across the world for faster delivery of

180、non-urgent parcel,post and cargoIf changes can foster more regular BVLOS operation of larger UAVs,a new market for delivery routine services could be created and the commercial use cases could be better understood and served.”Potential barrier to growthTrend2024Perception Client or stakeholder attit

181、udes to,and openness towards the solutionImplementationSuccess in integrating the solution with business as usualTechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionRegulationDegree to which current regualtions facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropr

182、iate mix of skills in the marketChange from 2021 and 2024 status,red indicates and issue and green no issue36Skies Without Limits v3.0Food,Parcel and Medical“Last-mile”Delivery,Could We Go a Little Faster?Delivery last mile/BVLOS/MannaOriginal Case StudyManna has come a long way since 2021,with sign

183、ificant progress in technology,regulation and market penetration.This is even more impressive when we see it in the context of unit economics which Manna advises are“positive”.They are not,however,able to operate in the UK due to more restrictive regulations than other countries,for example Ireland

184、and the USA.We also wonder if Mannas positive view on perception would apply to the UK,as our 2023 Building Trust in Commercial Drones paper found that delivery drones were one of the least supported use cases.Last Mile Drone Delivery Drones replace ground based,manned B2C delivery,taking items dire

185、ctly to the consumers doorstep(comparison vs delivery by road)FasterDrones are able to deliver toa 5km radius in less than 3 mins44SaferSafer than(manned)road travelCheaperUp to 90%cheaper than car based services assuming 8 deliveries/hour45,but payload capacity limitedEnvironmentBatteries vs petrol

186、.Benefit dependent on payload size44.Per Manna45.Per MannaFlight paths of 12K deliveries over 4 months in the Blanchardstown,Ireland area.Source:Manna37Skies Without Limits v3.0One of the most striking numbers In SWL2 was the 10bn TAM(Total Addressable Market)for UK last-mile delivery drones.However

187、,at the time of writing,practically none of this has been realised.There are still no volume deployments of last-mile delivery drones in the UK,despite many successful trials such as Future Flight Challenge project Caelus46 and some promising Royal Mail projects such as Orkney I-Port(Skyports)and Wi

188、ndracers collaboration.47 In SWL2,we also noted that Amazon Prime Air had wrapped up their operations in the UK(2021),casting potential doubt on the viability of the industry.However,there is now evidence of another attempt by Amazon to enter the UK market and we note their participation in upcoming

189、 BVLOS trials48.Manna have progressed significantly in the last three years but this progress is elsewhere,including Ireland and the USA.In SWL2,we stated:Although there is still a noticeable difference in risk attitudes between the UK and other regions(refer to the Cyberhawk case study update for a

190、 USA/UK risk perspective),there appear to be additional areas where the UK was once on par but has since lagged.Over the past three years,Europe and the USA have made considerable advancements in Technology and Regulation(refer to Section 4,above),a progress not matched domestically.In Technology fo

191、r example,Manna highlights the criticality of UTM to their business,particularly at scale.Manna say:46.AGS,Caelus47.SUAS News Skyports and Royal Mail to extend UKs longest running commercial drone delivery serviceWindracers,Royal Mail reveals ambitious vision for more than 50 new postal drone routes

192、 in partnership with Windracers Group 48.CAA New trials set to help unlock drone deliveries and inspections in the UKIf we look at the global picture for Last Mile Delivery drones,we can conclude that other countries such as Ireland,USAhave made more tangible progress than the UK.This does not appea

193、r to be due to technology(UTM,Electronic Conspicuity,Detect and Avoid and Drone Autonomy,etc)which is not notably different.Itmay be due to a different attitude to risk in theUK”UTM technologies are crucial for UK BVLOS drone operations.The integration of Unmanned Traffic Management(UTM)systems is e

194、ssential for managing the increased air traffic volume associated with BVLOS operations.These technologies ensure that drones can operate safely and efficiently alongside both unmanned and manned aircraft,preventing collisions and facilitating smooth traffic flow.Additionally,UTM systems support reg

195、ulatory compliance by providing the necessary infrastructure for monitoring and controlling drone flights,which is vital in the UKs densely populated and complex airspace.”38Skies Without Limits v3.0As we note in Section 4,UTM appears to be viewed as a foundational technology in the USA and Europe b

196、ut UTM in the UK is not planned until 2026 at the earliest,refer to the Future of Flight action plan49.Mannas perspectives on barriers to growth make for interesting viewing and paint a much more positive picture than we expected.They reflect Mannas impressive progress in the last 3 years and their

197、achievements include:Unit Economics Manna has achieved“positive unit economics”50 and are operating at commercial volume in Ireland(Blanchardstown)from Q1 2024.Manna claims that the operation covers 42K households and 150K people Regulation Manna can fly in Europe and the USA:EASA(European Union Avi

198、ation and Safety Authority)BVLOS LUC(Light UAS Operator Certificate)attained;FAA(Federal Aviation Administration)Part 107 waivers obtained to operate in Dallas,Texas51Technology Manna claim significant progress in their proprietary drones autonomy,weather tolerance,carrying capacity and endurance;th

199、ey have also progressed flight planning and one-to-many pilotingThe positive view of the Perception barrier(green up)is interesting but reflects countries other than the UK.In the UK,drone deliveries continue to be one of the least supported use cases according to our recent survey(BTiCD52 2023,61%)

200、.However,this represents a substantial increase compared to our earlier market research(BTiD53 2019,26%)but it is important to note thatthe respondent populations differed between thesesurveys.Manna states that:Changes in Implementation(green up)are based on Mannas movement from serving 10K people i

201、n one location in 2021,to multiple locations around the world in 2024.This includes Blanchardstown where 150K people are in the delivery area,and the start of new operations in Dallas,Texas.It is a slightly different story on Regulation(amber up).Mannas achievements in this area are noted above but

202、there is still more progress required in the EU and USA to scale up and in the UK to start operations.In Mannas words:49.DfT,Future of Flight Action Plan50.Per Manna,this reflects cost per delivery being lower than revenue per delivery,assuming utilisation is more than 55%51.Per Manna,the part 107 w

203、aivers set the stage for them to pursue a Section 44807 airworthiness waiver and a waiver to FAR 91.113(allowing BVLOS flight).These allowances will enable them to fly BVLOS drone delivery under a UAS Part 135 certificate,which will be acceptable to scale until the FAAs Part 108 recommendations beco

204、me law52.PwC and DSIT,Building Trust in Commercial Drones53.PwC,Building Trust in Drones88%+of consumers are in favour of the serviceOver the past 3 years,we have seen increased levels of acceptance and a sense of inevitability across investors and the business community that drone delivery will be

205、part of the fabric of modern society in the near future.”The EU regulatory framework,governed by EASA,including the U-Space legal requirement,is ready for drone delivery at scale.This framework provides a solid foundation that supports the safe and efficient operation of drone deliveries.We look for

206、ward to local airspace regulators across the EU demonstrating their ability to comply with these regulations at an appropriate pace,ensuring that permits allow safe operators to build out initial scale effectively.We also welcome recent communications from the FAA,which will soon publish the new Par

207、t 108 unmanned aviation requirements,and the UK CAA,which announced the adoption of a SORA-style approval framework by late 2024 or early 2025.These regulatory developments are crucial for facilitating the widespread adoption and scalability of our drone delivery solution.”39Skies Without Limits v3.

208、0Potential barrier to growthTrend2024Perception Client or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the solutionImplementationSuccess in integrating the solution with business as usualTechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionRegulationDegree to which c

209、urrent regualtions facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropriate mix of skills in the marketChange from 2021 and 2024 status,red indicates and issue and green no issueMannas view on Skills(up amber)is,perhaps,what we would expect from a company pushing technology and regulatory bounda

210、ries.Finding skills in drone manufacturing,unmanned aviation engineering and AI has been particularly challenging,but they are taking steps to address this.We will close with Mannas thoughts on the changes they would like to see in the UK.Manna says:We see several key areas for improvement in how th

211、e UK handles drone operations.Firstly,there is a need for streamlined regulatory processes that can adapt to rapid advancements in drone technology,including more efficient procedures for obtaining BVLOS permissions and integrating new technologies such as detect-and-avoid systems.Secondly,increased

212、 investment in Unmanned Traffic Management(UTM)infrastructure is crucial to ensure safe and efficient airspace management as drone traffic continues to grow.Additionally,there should be a greater emphasis on public education and awareness campaigns to improve the perception of drones and highlight t

213、heir benefits to society.Enhancing training programs and certifications for drone operators will ensure high standards of safety and professionalism across the industry.Finally,closer collaboration between regulatory bodies,industry stakeholders,and technology providers is essential to facilitate th

214、e development of robust frameworks that support innovation and the safe integration of drones into UK airspace.These changes will enhance safety and efficiency,support the growth and integration of drone delivery services in the UK.”40Skies Without Limits v3.0Remote Piloting Paving the Way for Auton

215、omous BVLOSInspection/BVLOS/sees.aiOriginal Case StudySince 2021,sees.ai has successfully implemented routine inspections of powerlines using remotely piloted drones.They have secured the UKs first permission from the Civil Aviation Authority(CAA)to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight(BVLOS)flights

216、regularly in non-segregated airspace on live transmission towers owned by National Grid Electricity Transmission(NGET).End client appetite for the solution has been key to this progress but sees.ais growth has been constrained by the availability of capital.Drone inspection inspection of assets agai

217、nst set criteria,usually to determine maintenance requirements.Comparison is against helicopters(powerlines)FasterBVLOS drone capture is comparable to helicopterSaferDrones are significantly safer than helicoptersCheapersimilar capture cost to helicopters but drones deliver more detailed and compreh

218、ensive inspection,resulting in lower total cost(note that BVLOS may be 34%cheaper than VLOS54)EnvironmentBatteries vs jet fuel54.PwC and UKRI,Future Flight Challenge Socio-economic Study41Skies Without Limits v3.055.A five-fold increase in solar capacity by 2035 and increasing the offshore wind capa

219、city target to 50GW by 2030 in British Energy Security Strategy,202256.NGESOs Future Energy Scenarios,2021;UK Governments British Energy Security Strategy,2022;NGESOs Pathway to 2030 Holistic Network Design,2022/23;National Grid,Delivering for 2035,2023 and ENA Industry Action Plan,202357.Robotics G

220、rowth Partnership,Smart Machines 2035 StrategyIn SWL2,we reported that sees.ai had received authorisation to operate in non-segregated airspace.Building on this achievement,they have expanded their inspection solution from trials to commercial operations for a major client,NGET.This includes securin

221、g the UKs first permission from the CAA to fly BVLOS routinely in non-segregated airspace over live grid assets.This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy given the many UK BVLOS projects that have stalled at initial trials.It is also encouraging to see pragmatic AI practitioners like Keen AI co

222、ntributing to the solution.However,sees.ai believes their growth may have been constrained by limited capital availability due to a challenging fundraising environment.sees.ais impressive progress is reflected in their assessment of potential barriers to growth.They have seen increasing interest and

223、 support from network operators,partly driven by heightened government pressure to upgrade the grid(Perception up green).This clear demand from end-clients has also led to regulators becoming more receptive to the use case.sees.ai note that what started as an incremental improvement has now become a

224、 necessity:Implementation has jumped from red to amber(as noted above),and sees.ai anticipates reaching Businessas Usual(BAU)mode,operating at or above break-even on a unit economics basis,by 2026.Significant Technology progress has been made,addressing key technical challenges and enhancing enginee

225、ring,system reliability,and robustness(up green).sees.ai is optimistic about Skills and believes that their team,along with key clients,primarily from NGET,possesses the necessary expertise to execute the project successfully.As with all BVLOS-dependent use cases,Regulationhas progressed but further

226、 advancements are needed(up amber).sees.ai say Going forward,sees.ai would like to see increased levels of government involvement and enthusiasm for the sector and cite the Smart Machines 2035 Robotics Growth Partnership57 as an example.Since we started workingon this problem in 2021,the urgency to

227、find a solution has intensified significantly,in line with government announcement of ambitious renewable targets55;a flurry of reports calling for coordinated and massive action to upgrade the grid56 and rapidly mounting negative impacts for not doing so(e.g.curtailment costs reached arecord 920m i

228、n 2022).”Potential barrier to growthTrend2024Perception Client or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the solutionImplementationSuccess in integrating the solution with business as usualTechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionRegulationDegree to

229、 which current regualtions facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropriate mix of skills in the marketChange from 2021 and 2024 status,red indicates and issue and green no issueWhile limited Beyond Visual Line of Sight(BVLOS)permissions have been obtained,unlocking the use case,addition

230、al regulatory progress is still required.”42Skies Without Limits v3.0The Criticality of Integrating Drones with Business-as-UsualInspection Visual Asset Management/CyberhawkOriginal Case StudyIn our last report,we emphasised that the full potential of drone technology could only be realised if data

231、capture was fit-for-purpose and seamlessly integrated with business as usual.Cyberhawk embodies this approach,and it is likely to have been a key factor in their impressive progress over the past three years,with global revenue increasing by more than 100%from 2021 to 2023 and headcount reaching aro

232、und 200.However,the primary drivers of growth have been the US and Middle East,rather than the UK,where Cyberhawk feels constrained by the regulatory approach.They note that the UKs regulatory approach has become less progressive compared to other regions and has deteriorated since 2021,making them

233、the only case study respondent to report a decline in the regulations barrier to growth.That said,they are optimistic about the UKs new regulatory direction,including the implementation of SORA,and believe that BVLOS could help reduce costs in the UK,as it has in the USA.Drone inspection inspection

234、of assets against set criteria,usually to determine maintenance requirements.Comparison is against helicopters(powerlines)FasterVLOS drone capture is slower than helicopterSaferDrones are significantly safer than helicoptersCheaperAlthough capture costs can be similar,total cost is lessEnvironmentBa

235、tteries vs jet fuel,partially offset by 4x4 travel to site43Skies Without Limits v3.0A key message in SWL2 was that successful drone implementation necessitates a precise focus on capturing fit-for-purpose drone data and integrating it with business as usual.We often describe this as“starting at the

236、 end”;not turning a propeller until there is a crystal-clear understanding of the specification of data capture required,how it will be processed into actionable information and how the information will be shared or integrated with business as usual.This is captured in our 4-step drone workflow abov

237、e which remains as relevant now as it was when we first drafted it in 2018.Drone Service Provider Cyberhawk was one of the emerging companies that embodied this approach with their iHawk Visual Asset Management(VAM)software and a focus on end client requirements.This philosophy,embedded in Cyberhawk

238、 for many years,may be a key part of their success and they have grown their global business by more than 100%from 2021 to 2023,reaching a headcount of around 200.The story is,perhaps,less encouraging when we consider that this growth is mainly in the USA and Middle East rather than the UK and take

239、account of Cyberhawks comments on the differing regulatory approach between these countries as well as the associated impact on investment decisions.Cyberhawk say:The ability to scale in the US with BVLOS and automation and difficulties in obtaining permissions in the UK that support growth has led

240、to the majority of our investment being driven outside of the UK.The CAA has been far too slow to look at what they can do to influence market growth now and sadly they are inhibiting the industry and investment.In the US it feels like the FAA wants us to succeedand the attitude is how can we make t

241、his happen safely.In the UK it feels like we have to constantly argue the case as to why we should be operating.Thankfully there are signs that changes at the CAA are being made to improve the situation.”1234PermissionCaptureProcessingSharing All required authorisations are place for the mission.Con

242、siderations include VLOS,EVLOS,BLVOS and congested area operations.Pilot capability and currency system selection and maintenance validation.Flight planning,Risk Assessment and Method Statement mobilisation.Drone is flown in accordance with the plan and applicable regulations.Data(image,lidar,etc)is

243、 captured and uploaded Conversation from data to actionable information.Usually commoditised photogrammetry software for survey deliverables.Inspection deliverable processing may include computer vision AI,usally significant manual engineering.Processed information is shared with the client.Ranges f

244、rom PDF documents to interactive cloud-based Visual Asset Management(VAM)solutions.Client systems integration is key,both existing processes and system such as BIM and ERP.Fleet management swProcessing swVAM swVLOS Visual Line of Sight;EVLOS Extended Visual Line of Sight;BVLOS Beyond Visual Line of

245、Sight;BIM Building information Modelling:ERP Enterprise Resource Planning;sw software44Skies Without Limits v3.0That said,Cyberhawk believes that“The UK market is close to commercial volume in some areas”implying that market saturation may be the limiting factor for UK growth in their focus areas of

246、 Oil and Gas,Utilities,Renewables and Construction,rather than solely regulations.However,price-sensitive markets such as distribution tower inspection(Utilities)could be more effectively addressed if BVLOS was attainable,as this would improve unit economics,a benefit Cyberhawk observed in the USA.T

247、he company also states that BVLOS can improve public perception due to less land access being required.These points are reflected in Cyberhawks perception of UK barriers to growth below.If we start with the“elephant in the room,”Cyberhawk are the only SWL3 respondent to note a downward trend from 20

248、21 to 2024.This is in Regulation(down red).Cyberhawk say:When asked about the biggest changes since 2021,Cyberhawk continue:We have less flexibility to operate close to people than 3 years ago despite a long track record of documented safety.Regulations have become overly complex and do not facilita

249、te real world practical operations.”Regulatory oversight in the UK is not as progressive as other regions such as the US.Permissions we have held for over 15 years are now being eroded in the UK and we have gone backwards in some areas.Conversely,the ability to operate in atypical airspace in the US

250、 has accelerated our BVLOS operations and demonstrated a clear path to scaling our operations and delivering cost reductions.There is a clear difference in who is accountable for risk between the UK and US.In the UK it feels like the CAA owns the risk whereas in the US the operator holds the majorit

251、y of the risk.For example,we applied for a countrywide BVLOS permission in the US(in atypical airspace)and the submission was 50 pages and took 2 months to gain approval.In the UK our routing submission for an operational authorisation is 1600 pages.5 months on we are working through the CAA Oversig

252、ht Report.”45Skies Without Limits v3.0Cyberhawks view on Perception(up green)is encouraging and reflects a growing willingness from their client base to trial new technology and collection methods.Given the introduction to this case study,it will come as little surprise that Cyberhawk remains positi

253、ve about Implementation(flat green)due to successful integration with client workflows.They consider Technology to be somewhat of an issue(flat yellow)and note that the combination of tech(including UTM)required for BVLOS is more advanced in other countries.Skills have the same perception as Technol

254、ogy(flat yellow).Cyberhawk notes that skilled pilots and engineers have been difficult to find,resulting in them training the former.We expect that increasing drone and analytics automation will ease these Skills issues in the future.Well close with Cyberhawks thoughts on the changes they would like

255、 to see in the UK.Although positive about the upcoming changes in regulation,including the introduction of SORA,Cyberhawk think their growth would be maximised if the UK attitude to risk were adjusted and the regulatory approach was consistent year on year.Cyberhawk says:The introduction of SORA met

256、hodology will help provide more consistency across applications for operational authorisations but there needs to be a shift in mindset at the CAA as to how they can support businesses to grow.There also needs to be a fresh look at the level of risks involved in operating drones,particularly in rura

257、l areas.CAA inspectors need to spend time with commercial operators to gain a better Potential barrier to growthTrend2024Perception Client or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the solutionImplementationSuccess in integrating the solution with business as usualTechnologyAvailability and e

258、fficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionRegulationDegree to which current regualtions facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropriate mix of skills in the marketChange from 2021 and 2024 status,red indicates and issue and green no issueunderstanding of where the greates

259、t risks occur.On our risk register,the greatest risk of harm is the pilot driving to site!Proportionately,how many drivers cause physical harm to uninvolved people compared to drone operators?We need to stop trying to have zero risk and instead accept and manage the risk.They arenot passenger carryi

260、ng aircraft and therefore the level of risk and subsequent harm is very different.”“It would be useful to get some consistency in assessments of our submissions to the CAA from year to year.Each time the assessment is different and asks for something else even though the permission has been in place

261、 for years.Suggested ways forward presented by the CAA are then taken back in subsequent oversightreports.In the US a consistent and progressive message from the FAA means we can go to market knowing exactly what services we can offer in the years to come.In the UK we have less of an idea of what wi

262、ll be possible and our expectation now is our operational flexibility will continue to reduce further despite our continued improvements in procedures,training,safety management,and maintenance.”46Skies Without Limits v3.0Automating Traditional Agricultural PracticesPrecision Agriculture/VLOS/Auto S

263、pray Systems and Drone AgOriginal Case StudyScanning,spraying and seeding is now a reality in the UK,thanks to the progress Auto Spray Systems,Drone Ag and others have made with the CAA and CRD(Chemicals Regulation Directorate)over the last 3 years.Although operations are currently small-scale,there

264、 is huge potential to grow the market,catch up with the rest of the world and contribute to UK food security when more chemicalsare approved for spraying,and flight permission is simplified.Drone agriculture drone data to assess crop health;drones replace manned aircraft and/or ground crop spraying;

265、drones replace traditional methods of seedingFasterExamples include 5x faster spraying(drone vs manual)SaferSafer than manned aircraft,more precise targetingCheaperc.30%less chemical volume vs traditional,less site timeEnvironmentMore precise targeting/fewer chemicals,battery power47Skies Without Li

266、mits v3.0In this update,were going to look at the progress of twocase study companies,Auto Spray Systems and Drone Ag.Auto Spray Systems have progressed significantly since 2021 and are now scanning,spraying and seeding crops in the UK.Highlights over the last 3 years include:Operational Authority(O

267、A)for large spray/spreading drones from CAA in(2022)Lantra training certification for spray drone training(2023)Listed as a productivity item in the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund(FETF)58(2024)Applied liquid and granular PPPs59(regulated chemicals)with HSE approval and led other PPP initiativ

268、es60(2024)Drone Ag have also progressed significantly since 2021:Onboarded several sizeable agronomy firms to their Skippy Scout platform(app-based crop monitoring using drones,refer to the original case study or Skippy.farm)which is being used in 21 different countriesAfter allowing their 2015 perm

269、issions to elapse,Drone Ag have also obtained new permissions,but focus more on training,case studies and hardware supply,rather than direct drone services for clients Auto Spray Systems and Drone Ag have different views on whether their business has grown at the rate expected in 2021.Auto Spray Sys

270、tems claim to have exceeded their planned rate of growth and Drone Ag state that their growth has continued to trend up,despite a“difficult economic landscape.”Drone Ag believes that their Skippy Scout platform has reached commercial volume both in the UK and globally,evidenced by several large clie

271、nts utilising their solution.In contrast,Auto Spray Systems notes that there are various limiting factors,primarily authorisation to spray PPPs,which have prevented them from reaching commercial volume in the UK.However,they can understand the rationale and say:Both companies agree that agricultural

272、 drone implementations are at a small scale and have considerable potential to grow,thereby increasing food security and land use efficiency.Growth potential could be realised if chemical regulations were less restrictive(compared to other countries)and the complexity and cost of obtaining flight pe

273、rmissions was reduced significantly.The diagram on page 49 compares Auto Spray Systems and Drone Ags perception of barriers to growth.Overall,both companies are positive about where they find themselves in 2024.Auto Spray Systems(focussed on spraying and seeding over the last 3 years)ratings indicat

274、e significant progress from 2021 with all trends up.In contrast,Drone Ag,which has focussed mainly on their crop monitoring software in this period(but has continued to offer drone spraying/spreading hardware and training),believes only Technology has trended up(green).Drone Ag say:approvals for PPP

275、 application by drone are coming through now which will allow the market to grow in a manageable way that will allow best practice to be established rather than a“free-for-all”rush that would happen if those restrictions were not in place.In many ways,these limiting factors are what will make this r

276、oll out successful in the long run.”Technology development has massively outpacedBritish demand since 2021 and legislation lags behind.”58.A grant scheme designed to support farmers by facilitating access to advanced farming technologies and supporting the agricultural industrys overall growth and s

277、ustainability59.Plant Protection Products or pesticides,HSE60.Other PPP related activities from Auto Spray:trials underway to change PPP labels to list drone application methods as standard(2024);developing a roadmap for commercial PPP approvals in progress with CRD(2024)with the aim to have 30 prod

278、ucts approved for drone application in 202548Skies Without Limits v3.0Regulation(amber up for Auto Spray Systems,flat for Drone Ag),as mentioned above,is limiting growth.Both companies believe that agricultural drone use will only begin to scale once PPP authorisation is coupled with simplified,lowe

279、r-cost flight permissions.This may be achieved by establishing simpler processes for obtaining flight permission such as a Pre-Defined Risk Assessment(PDRA)for agricultural applications.Auto Spray Systems note that many other countries operate under less restrictive chemical regulations than the UK

280、and highlight two significant differences.Auto Spray Systems say:Drone Ag agrees that chemical regulations are restrictive and expensive.Drone Ag say:They add that flight permissions are complex and expensive.Drone Ag say:Firstly,they other countries can apply any PPP onto the crops,because there is

281、 less regulation.Secondly,they can use Ultra Low Volume of water rates when applying these chemicals.So typical application rates will be in the region of 10-15L/Ha as opposed to 200L/Ha in the UK.We have to make approximately 15 times as many flights as our global equivalents.”chemical approval for

282、 drone sprayers remains frustratingly out-of-reach”“They the CRD make a point of stating that they are“open for business”but the path to approval that they have laid out is costly and slow.Stakeholders(drone companies,their representatives,and chemical manufacturers)must work together with the CRD t

283、o trial each individual chemical with drone sprayers.Each trial requires that stakeholders pay the UK government in order to conduct it.This process requires replication for each individual formulation of controlled chemical.”the current largest stumbling block to non-chemical drone spraying operati

284、ons(i.e.operations that can be done right now)in the UK;is the necessity of an OSCOSCs are very much a“one size fits all”solution,designed to allow complex and fairly niche operations in high-risk environments.OSCs are built from the ground up on a case-by-case basis,and require a well of knowledge

285、and resources in order to complete.They are also restrictively expensive for most.Our priority focus on crop monitoring as opposed to spraying drones,is in part due to the difficult regulatory landscape we find ourselves in.Auto Sprays work in this arena is therefore very encouraging and greatly app

286、reciated.Agriculture is so different from the kinds of work OSCs are mostly designed to facilitate and Agriculture should be treated as a totally separate kind of operation.A separate type of licensing or permission such as an agri-specific PDRA should be created for these kinds of operations,that f

287、acilitates the adoption of beneficial techfarms are almost entirely in the countryside,this seems obvious,but this is important because although they may border infrastructure or built up areas,the vast majority of field areas are in completely rural settings,meaning risk to people and property is v

288、ery low.”49Skies Without Limits v3.0Auto Spray systems note significant progress sinceSWL2.Auto Spray Systems say:All of this indicates that it is now time to act and build upon the progress made so far.We are addressing an issue as essential and fundamental as food security.Drone Ag say:The biggest

289、 changes,since the report was released,have been in the accessibility of the CAA and HSE/CRD.The CAA have been very responsive to our evolving licensing requirements and we have engaged very deeply with HSE/CRD on PPP authorisations and are making good progress.However,this is just the beginning.Unt

290、il there is a PDRA for agri drone operations from the CAA,drone take up will be slow due to the complications of the OSC routeuntil key PPP products for drone application become commercially approved,the market will remain small”“If these could be addressed we would reach“commercial volume”within 12

291、 months.”Agriculture is under extreme and increasing pressure to increase efficiency,in order to feed a growing population with fewer and fewer resources.”Potential barrier to growthAuto SprayDroneAgTrend2024Trend2024Perception Client or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the solutionImpl

292、ementationSuccess in integrating the solution with business as usualTechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionRegulationDegree to which current regualtions facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropriate mix of skills in the marketChange from 2

293、021 and 2024 status,red indicates and issue and green no issue50Skies Without Limits v3.0Rapid Response at Times of Environmental CrisisSurveillance/VLOS/Environment AgencyOriginal Case StudyThe Environment Agency(EA)was among the first government entities to recognise the potential of drones,workin

294、g with vendors for their 24/7,365-days-a-year,6-hour flood response service since 2017.While this crucial service remains operational,the EA has further leveraged drone technology by training an increasing number of their existing staff as drone pilots.This has led to exciting new applications,such

295、as culvert inspections,and other applications like water sampling are currently being explored.In 2024,the EA plans to transition from a project-based approach to integrating drones into their routine operations.To achieve their ambitions,the EA will need to address their primary challenges,which ar

296、e mostly internal,such as IT and software issues.This contrasts with other organisations,where challenges often revolve around external regulatory constraints from entities like the CAA.EA believes that potential barriers to growth have remained unchanged from 2021 to 2024(all trends flat,see below)

297、.This is an unusual take,as most other respondents have at least one change.This reflects EAs view that Perception,Implementation,Technology and Skills did not hinder their drone deployments in 2021 and continue to pose no issues,a refreshing perspective.While the EA currently considers their Implem

298、entationof drones to be in the green,it is important to note that the expansion of drone use cases and increased frequency will result in a corresponding increase in data volume.Consequently,software capabilities for drones and integration with existing systems will need to be enhanced.As noted abov

299、e,this is a significant internal challenge for EA but not one which they perceive as a barrier to growth.The Environment Agency(EA),an early adopter of drone solutions,continues to operate a 24/7,365,6-hour flood response service from drone vendor RUAS.Since 2021,EA has succeeded in substantially in

300、creasing its number of in-house pilots,developed additional use cases and transitioned drones from a project-based approach to business as usual.The main growth challenges faced by EA are internal rather than external.51Skies Without Limits v3.0The Technology and Skills categories are also green,ref

301、lecting the scope of use cases and the way EA has embraced a hybrid model which combines internal and external drone operations.They note that the CAAs proposed 4 levels of drone operator qualifications will have a positive impact on Skills going forward,and:However,the Regulation category remains a

302、mber due to the current Beyond Visual Line of Sight(BVLOS)situation.The EA believes that“close”BVLOS(flying behind nearby objects)would be most beneficial for them in the short term.They think BVLOS would also be beneficial for services they would most likely purchase from specialist drone vendors s

303、uch as:a qualification for an assessor,who could re-assess in-house pilots that fall out of currency,could be useful for organisations like the EA with multiple drone operators.”Incident management and the potential to fly along many kilometres of a river,mapping the flood waters.”Potential barrier

304、to growthTrend2024Perception Client or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the solutionImplementationSuccess in integrating the solution with business as usualTechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionRegulationDegree to which current regualtions

305、facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropriate mix of skills in the marketChange from 2021 and 2024 status,red indicates and issue and green no issue52Skies Without Limits v3.0Reducing Leaks with Smart SolutionsSurvey Water/Team UAVOriginal Case StudyIn 2021,Team UAV was featured in a

306、case study for their work in leak detection within the water industry.They have since increased their focus on conducting internal inspections in confined spaces.This is motivated,amongst other things,by the fact that internal drone inspections bypass many regulatory obstacles that can hinder other

307、applications.They also enhance safety by keeping personnel out of hazardous situations and provide compelling data.Although this may suggest that Team UAVs growth is largely unimpeded,they do face challenges such as skill shortages and the increasing trend of clients forming their own drone teams.Te

308、am UAV also believes that BVLOS operations in unsegregated airspace would enable them to expand their business.Drone inspection(internal)collision tolerant drones used to inspect confined space,often using LiDAR for navigation and generating 3D models FasterApproximately 2x faster61SaferMinimises th

309、e need to enter hazardous confined spacesCheaperUp to 40%cheaper(rope access/scaffolding minimised)EnvironmentFewer trips to site61.Flyability,sewer drones53Skies Without Limits v3.062.HSE,ATEX and explosive atmospheresFollowing SWL2,Team UAV has increased its focus on inspections in confined spaces

310、 within the water and environmental sectors.Although clients are expressing greater interest in their solutions,the company has not yet achieved commercial volume.Team UAV states:Team UAV has collaborated with the Environment Agency to deliver precise 3D models and high-resolution imagery of undergr

311、ound culverts,which they claim has facilitated accurate mapping,advanced data analysis,and improved decision-making.This solution has significantly enhanced safety by reducing the need for human entry into hazardous environments.Team UAV believes that this achievement has set a new benchmark for env

312、ironmental monitoring,opened new opportunities for growth and collaboration,and solidified their reputation as an industry pioneer.This perspective is reflected in Team UAVs view of their solutions market Perception(up green).Team UAV say:Perhaps unsurprisingly,Team UAV have found that their clients

313、 have a very positive attitude towards deploying drones instead of personnel in confined spaces.The Implementation and Technology barriers share the same trend and perception(up amber).The reason for the Implementation progress has been covered above.The amber rating is due to the difficulties clien

314、ts have adopting services at scale.Team UAV believe that Technology has advanced,delivering longer battery life and improved sensors.However,some technological challenges are impeding growth.The cost of drones is significant,especially considering the high risk of losing them.Additionally,the absenc

315、e of ATEX-certified62 drone solutions restricts Team UAVs ability to operate safely in explosive or hazardous environments,which is key for certain industries.Regulation(flat green):There are no regulatory barriers to the growth of internal inspections.However,in the context of their overall busines

316、s,Team UAV points out that routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight(BVLOS)operations in unsegregated airspace couldSince 2021,our most significant achievement has been introducing confined space drone services into the water and environmental sectors.This innovation has greatly enhanced our ability to co

317、nduct detailed visual inspections and gather geospatial information from point cloud data derived from onboard LiDAR sensors.”The growing acceptance and trust in drone technology among clients have also played a crucial role,enabling us to undertake more complex and diverse projects.”unlock new grow

318、th opportunities,drive innovation,and improve safety by reducing the need for manual interventions in hazardous environments.”54Skies Without Limits v3.0Concluding with the only red indicator on the board,Team UAV mentions that finding pilots with confined space experience is very challenging,necess

319、itating in-house training for pilots(Skills flat,red).This perspective is intriguing,as some respondents who also needed to train their pilots in-house rated their skills as green,indicating it did not limit their growth.When asked about the changes they would like to seeinthe UKs approach to drone

320、operations,Team UAVresponded:They are also worried about DJIs low-cost,high-spec drones being removed as an option for political reasons,a concern shared by others.Streamlining the regulatory processes,particularly for BVLOS approvals,would encourage more widespread use and innovation.Establishing r

321、obust training and certification programmes for operators would ensure safety and professionalism.Clearer guidelines for urban operations are needed to address privacy,safety,and operational restrictions.Supporting research and development through incentives and funding,along with public awareness c

322、ampaigns,would reduce misconceptions and increase acceptance of drone technology.Additionally,investing in infrastructure,such as dedicated drone corridors,and enhancing international collaboration to harmonise regulations would facilitate easier cross-border operations and global growth.These chang

323、es would create a more supportive and enabling environment for drone operations in the UK,fostering innovation,safety,and industry growth.”Potential barrier to growthTrend2024Perception Client or stakeholder attitudes to,and openness towards the solutionImplementationSuccess in integrating the solut

324、ion with business as usualTechnologyAvailability and efficacy of technology required to facilitate the solutionRegulationDegree to which current regualtions facilitate the solutionSkillsAbility to find the appropriate mix of skills in the marketChange from 2021 and 2024 status,red indicates and issu

325、e and green no issue55Skies Without Limits v3.0Highly Accurate Drones Keeping Passengers and Engineers Safe and Minimising Commuting DelaysInspection Rail/Plowman CravenOriginal Case StudyThe remarkable thing about Plowman Cravens solution in 2021 was the absolute accuracy they achieved while survey

326、ing railways which enabled them to deliver a host of safety,cost and efficiency benefits.Their perception of the status of the barriers to growth identified in SWL2 is equally remarkable,they are the only respondent to consider that all barriers were green(no issue)in 2021 and are still green in 202

327、4.This reflects a company whose belief that it is in control of its own destiny has allowed them to develop and expand their drone solution over the past three years they see drone solutions as complementary to their traditional land survey business rather than an end in themselves.Drone survey(rail

328、way)drones used to capture data at Network Rail Band 1 accuracy.Comparison is against traditional approaches(source:Plowman Craven).Faster20%faster claimed,trains can still run during captureSaferSafer than walking the track,no possession,fewer headsCheaper30%cheaper claimedEnvironment85%lower emiss

329、ions claimed(fewer trips to site)56Skies Without Limits v3.0Since SWL2,Plowman Craven have improved and rebranded their highly accurate drone solution.What was previously Vogel R3D is now Vogel Freedom and flight height for the Network Rail band 1 accuracy(+/-5mm absolute accuracy)is now 10m higher

330、at 35m vs 25m.They claim that,with their solution,there is no need to have“boots on ballast”(people on the track),nor to interrupt rail traffic(no“possession”of the trackrequired)and,as a result,the following benefits aredelivered:They also note that business has grown at the rate they expected in 2

331、021 and“UAV operations service a large portion of PCL Plowman Craven revenues.”Plowman Cravens atypical scoring of the SWL2 barriers to growth(all green,all flat)suggests a company that feels in control of its own destiny and does not perceive its growth to be constrained by these factors.The Percep

332、tion traffic light(flat green)looks encouraging on the face of it but Plowman Craven say:We found the“indifferent”point fascinating.As long-time advocates and heavy users of drone solutions we were surprised some of Plowman Cravens clients felt this way.We can speculate that in the land survey marke

333、t,where Plowman Craven operate,clients are looking for a survey of a given accuracy at a given price point and do not care whether this is delivered by drones or using traditional methods such as ground-based laser scanning or GPS pole.We could also say that,in the land survey field,drones are very much considered business as usual,as reflected in Plowman Cravens views on the barriers to growth.We