A recent report by Scyne Advisory, commissioned by Airservices Australia, forecasts a significant surge in the number of drone flights in Australia, from 1.5 million to 60 million by 2043. This dramatic increase is anticipated to be driven by advancements in sectors such as delivery services. However, a critical concern is air traffic management during this positional expansion.
Elsight, a company specialising in the production of communication systems for drones, is set to play a vital role in addressing this concern. Their products, ranging from chips to satellite and radio links, are designed to maintain consistent connectivity, making the system an excellent fit for managing escalating drone air traffic.
In particular, Elsight's Halo communications system is poised to aid in Australia's predicted drone industry growth. By providing complete connection confidence, Halo is essential for facilitating uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to safely fly beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS), a crucial element needed for the industry's expansion. Moreover, the system reduces the number of personnel required for unmanned traffic management systems, thereby facilitating scalability in the industry.
Elsight's CEO, Yoav Amitai, further expounded on the role of their Halo system in the growth of the UAS industry, stating, "With reliable connectivity, the Halo enables beyond the line of sight flights, eliminating the need for person-based observers." This mobility, Yoav Amitai explained, allows a single operator to manage more drone flights than current systems, thus propelling the UAV industry forward.
The robust Halo system works by creating a bonded tunnel bolstered by the availability of LTE, 5G, SatCom and RF communications, ensuring continuous uptime for a drone in connection with ground control systems. This secure and bonded pipeline not only boosts the reliability of the connection but also enhances data transmission.
Projected growth in the drone industry involves a variety of sectors, the Scyne Advisory report elucidated. Highlights include a predicted 46 million drone flights for goods deliveries, representing about 70% of all drone flights, and an increasing capacity for payload that would enable last-mile parcel delivery. According to the report, by the late 2030s, aerial taxis could become a reality. Additional fields of drone use include around 1 million passenger transport flights annually by the 2040s, 1.5 million food deliveries, and over half a million flights supporting the mining industry.
As Australia prepares to expand its drone industry significantly over the next two decades, Yoav Amitai emphasised the importance of both safety and cost-effectiveness: "We do not want to think about the consequences if just one mission lost communication for any reason. Our Halo prevents this from happening." The executive stressed the crucial role Elsight's Halo system will play in Australia's drone industry's growth, boosting its security and economic viability.