One Pilot Flying Multiple Drones

Akihabara News (Tokyo) — KDDI Corporation and Japan Airlines (JAL) have announced that they are working on a project that will allow a single pilot to simultaneously operate multiple drones.

This initiative, formally known as “Developing Basic Technologies for Airframes and Systems That Will Realize ‘One-to-Many’ Drone Operations,” was launched on August 9 with the backing of the governmental New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The initiative comes under the auspices of the Realization of Advanced Air Mobility Project (ReAMo).

The two companies explained in their joint release: “With the lifting of the ban on beyond visual line of sight flights in inhabited areas (Level 4) scheduled to come into effect in December 2022, drones will be used by companies more frequently in situations such as logistics, inspections, security, and disaster response. It is expected that they will be used as a new kind of aerial infrastructure by both businesses and local governments.”

The plan calls for the development of a flight control system that can effectively and safely carry out “one-to-many” drone operations, as well as to demonstrate its viability through multiple practical tests. Envisioned use cases include drone delivery, security operations, and disaster response.

The firms will also study the economic impact of such a system for private businesses.

Additionally, the companies note that the development of this system for drone flights will have important future applications to the eVTOL industry.

KDDI and JAL first unveiled their intention to work in partnership on drone system development in February.

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