It sounds futuristic, but Amsterdam is one of the cities where drones are being tested on a large scale. These can be used, among other things, for the delivery of meals, medicines and even as a taxi for people. The trial should show that self-driving drones are also safe over cities.
“We have two drones here that we are going to use,” says Jens ten Thije, drone engineer at the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Center that is conducting the tests in Amsterdam. “We’re going to get one of these drones too beyond visual line of sight fly. That is, the pilot cannot see the drone during flight.”
The trial must prove that drones can be used safely alongside regular air traffic by means of the European air traffic control system U-Space.
‘Safer for everyone’
“I think these drones can really have an impact for certain functions,” explains project coordinator Marta Tojal Castro. “Think of public services like the fire service: they can use these drones to fly in and see exactly where the fire is. Then it’s safer for firefighters to get in. It makes it easier and safer for everyone.”
According to Tojal Castro and Ten Thije, in twenty years’ time we can also expect passenger drones that will transport people from a nasty b bring. Ten Thije: “But then we really have to look at how the regulations develop. And especially their safety.”
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In terms of safety, Amsterdam is an interesting testing ground, because is there room for drones with Schiphol Airport just around the corner? “Absolutely,” replies Tojal Castro resolutely. “Drones will fly at a lower altitude than airplanes. Passenger drones will fly as high as helicopters.”
Tojal Castro guarantees that it is completely safe. “Although the passenger drones are unmanned, there is a whole security system behind them.”
Getting used to
“Like many things that are new, it takes a lot of people getting used to it, but so many aspects are taken into account these days that as soon as it comes on the market I know for sure that people will agree with this,” Ten Thije thinks.
After Amsterdam, the trial will go to Twente, Rotterdam and finally to Spain.