PROJECT ID

ASPRID

PROJECT TYPE

Exploratory research

FLAGSHIP

Not applicable

STATUS

Completed

SESAR PROGRAMME

SESAR 2020

PROJECT DURATION

2020-11-01 > 2022-11-30

TOTAL COST

€ 1 235 195,00

EU CONTR.

€ 1 235 195,00

GRANT ID

892036

PARTICIPANTS

Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali (CIRA), Soul Software, Office National D'Etudes Et De Recherches Aerospatiales, Enaire, AENA, Aerospace Laboratory for Innovative components

Drone flights over non-authorised areas pose a growing  threat to airport operations, stopping departures, diverting  flying aircraft to other airports, and incurring extra cost. At  the same time, response measures need to be appropriate  in a populated airport environment and can only be used  with a high degree of caution.

A broad range of systems are available to detect and  neutralise rogue-drones, drawn largely from the defence  sector. By means of an integrated and holistic approach,  ASPRID researchers defined an operational concept and  system architecture that is more appropriate for the  protection of airports. By examining historical data and  carrying out a vulnerability assessment, ASPRID defined a methodological framework and  pinpointed risk scenarios that can be used to inform a decision support system to help  manage the selection of operational mitigation actions. The architecture is used to establish  the adequate level of alert, response, and, if needed, neutralisation.

The project identified technologies, procedures, regulations and standards that can help  better safeguard us against drone incursions and recover from any disruptions as quickly  and as efficiently as possible. 

To validate the operational concept, the solution was simulated using a prototype human  machine interface (HMI) in combination with a gaming exercise that enabled the main  stakeholders participating in the exercise to interact with each other during a series of  modelled drone incursions in the airport environment. In addition to feedback from air traffic  controllers and airport personnel, input was provided by drone operators, IT and security  experts.

The solution was evaluated and consolidated using the qualitative and quantitative data collected. The results were used to identify needs and draw up recommendations on how to implement efficient airport operations against intruding drones.

 

Benefits

  • Increased operational situational awareness
  • Autonomous system for non-collaborative drones
  • Mitigation of drone incursions effects.

ASPRID (Airport System Protection from Intruding Drones), is the response to the request made from SESAR under the Exploratory Research view, in order to cope with the problem of protecting the airport operations from drone intrusion (careless or malicious) under a holistic and operationally oriented approach.

The Project proposes to investigate vulnerability of airport under the different types of threat and possible ways of response as well as to study the interrelations between all those aspects involving different scenarios. Risk analysis shall reveal and categorize the problem, from that, an architecture is developed, dealing with the different steps and elements that can impact on operations, establishing adequate levels of alert, response and, if needed, neutralization.

In this way, the stepped approach of the project show these mainstreams:

1. Identification of problem: Threat(s), assets to protect (Airport, ATM, Aircraft), operations,

2. Setting scenarios: Risk and vulnerability assessment, hierarchization, selection, requirements.

3. Definition of an operational oriented architecture:

a) At managerial level: Alert system and levels, Communications, Decisions, Response.
b) At Specific technology elements: Detection, Identification, Tracking, Neutralization.

4. Concept Validation activities: HMI based solutions, sensitivity studies, integration of elements and subsystems in the airport environment.

5. Concept Support activities: Review and assessment of regulations and procedures (normal and emergency).

ASPRID consortium members have experience with Airport and ATM operations as well as with drone performances and capabilities. A part of the consortium is also experienced in the development of SW and SW/HW based solutions to approach a system which is able to cope with the problem of decision making in real time by providing the end users with the correct level of awareness and response to deal with the type and level of threat.

Participants

  • INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE TECNICA AEROESPACIAL ESTEBAN TERRADAS
  • CENTRO ITALIANO RICERCHE AEROSPAZIALI SCPA
  • EUROCONTROL - EUROPEAN ORGANISATION FOR THE SAFETY OF AIR NAVIGATION
  • Soul Software S.R.L.
  • AEROSPACE LABORATORY OR INNOVATIVE COMPONENTS S.c.a.r.l.
  • OFFICE NATIONAL D'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES AEROSPATIALES
  • ENAIRE
  • AENA S.M.E. SA
European Union
ASPRID - Airport System Protection from Intruding Drones Drone