Out of sight, but with sense!
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research IFAM and Droniq GmbH in Frankfurt have for the first time ever carried out an unmanned flight beyond direct visual line of sight over the sea, while observing civil regulations and involving all relevant authorities.
23 Jan 2025Share
As part of a project collaboration, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research IFAM and Droniq GmbH, based in Frankfurt, have successfully completed a 180-kilometer drone flight from the Offshore Drone Campus Cuxhaven (ODCC) to Helgoland and back. This marks the first successful safe integration of unmanned flights beyond direct visual line of sight over the sea, in compliance with civil regulations and with the involvement of all relevant authorities. At the same time, the flight marked the first long-range drone operation in safe interaction with manned air traffic.
Beyond Visual Line of Sight
The drone flight took place as part of a first test flight to try out long-distance flights over the sea. The flight took place beyond the pilot's visual line of sight (BVLOS). The aim of these missions is to establish such long-distance flights by drone over the North and Baltic Seas for civilian applications – and to do so in harmony with manned aviation and shipping. Possible scenarios include the protection of critical infrastructure, monitoring of shipping lanes, environmental monitoring or the supplementation of maritime emergency management.
Significantly more resource-efficient than before
“With drones, we have a tool that can help implement a wide range of applications – and in a much more resource-efficient way than before,” explains Tim Strohbach, group manager for ‘Maritime Drone Applications’ at Fraunhofer IFAM. ‘It must always be possible to ensure that manned and unmanned air traffic can operate together safely,’ adds Droniq CEO Jan-Eric Putze. “We have now shown that this also works for long-range drone flights. This marks a milestone in the further development of unmanned aviation.”
Fixed-wing aircraft with 3.6 meter wingspan
The starting point for the flight was the recently inaugurated ODCC, which is operated by Fraunhofer IFAM. A drone from the Bremen company Hanseatic Aviation Solutions was used: the HAS S360 Mk.II is a fixed-wing aircraft with a 3.6-meter wingspan, a payload of five kilograms, and a take-off weight of approximately 25 kilograms. The drone flies at a speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour and is equipped with a combustion engine.
Cuxhafen – Helgoland and back
During the test flight, the drone first flew from Cuxhaven to the mouth of the Elbe. From there, it continued along the shipping lane to Helgoland and back – a total flight distance of 180 kilometers. The ground station at the ODCC coordinated the entire flight. The drone flew at an altitude of just over 200 meters. To ensure the drone's safe flight, it was equipped with a parachute, satellite communication, aviation radio, a transponder and a flotation device in case of an emergency landing on water. The Droniq ground sensor system also kept the drone pilot constantly informed of the drone's current position. During the flight, the communication links, the aircraft radio and other systems were tested. Further test flights are planned for 2025 with a view to regular integration into the airspace.
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