DAEDALUS

DAEDALUS objectives

The DAEDALUS project will deliver a U3 advanced U-space service as a TRL7 SESAR Solution that makes the vertical dimension of VLL airspace a programmable, interoperable, and navigation- and security-aware resource for U-space. The project pursues four high-level objectives:

Objective 1

Enable enhanced dynamic airspace layering

  • Develop and validate the Dynamic Airspace Layering (DAL) system to organise airspace into vertical layers in real time, preventing and resolving flight conflicts both pre-flight and in-flight.
  • Expected verifiable outputs: Measure the number of layers created compared to the current model, and verify that the system maintains stable and safe flights in the event of any unforeseen incident.
Objective 2

Smart flight altitude assignment in the authorisation service

  • Enhance the flight authorisation service so that operators can request specific altitudes (layers) in real time, ensuring a fair, transparent, and conflict-free allocation of airspace among all users.
  • Expected verifiable outputs: An updated version of the authorisation software that incorporates this layer management logic, demonstrating that different systems and service providers can seamlessly connect and share this data.
Objective 3

Common Altitude Reference System (CARS) development and uptake

  • Design and implement a Common Altitude Reference System (CARS) to ensure all aircraft and platforms measure altitude identically (combining geometric and barometric data). This will provide accurate altitude data and alerts to the layering engine (DAL), ensuring compliance with international safety standards.
  • Expected verifiable outputs: Demonstrate that the system is fast and consistently available, converts altitudes with absolute precision (reporting margins of error), and provide technical evidence of seamless integration across multiple drone management platforms (USSPs).
Objective 4

Navigation and security monitoring for resilient operations in layered airspace

  • Develop a surveillance system to monitor GPS/GNSS signals and communications in the vertical plane. This will detect faults, hacking (spoofing/jamming), or connectivity losses pre-flight and in-flight, enabling the DAL system to instantly recalculate separation minima between aircraft to prevent accidents.
  • Expected verifiable outputs: Measure the speed of system detection and alert latency regarding signal degradation, verify the correct classification of security and spoofing threats, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the automated mitigation measures applied (such as revising separation distances or cancelling high-risk flights).