Uncrewed Aviation Operations and Management
Code: 108239Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Aeronautical Management | OB | 3 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Jose Luis Muñoz Gamarra
- Email :
- joseluis.munoz.gamarra@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Tomás De Urrengoechea Cantavenera
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course.
Objectives
The main objective of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of U-space and UTM as digital traffic management frameworks for enabling safe, scalable and efficient unmanned aircraft operations in low-level airspace. The course introduces the operational, regulatory, technological and safety foundations required to design, authorise, manage and evaluate complex UAS operations, with particular emphasis on European U-space services, operational risk assessment, strategic and tactical deconfliction, contingency management and performance evaluation. By the end of the course, students should be able to analyse UAS operations from a system-level perspective and understand how airspace structure, digital services, aircraft capabilities, regulation and traffic management algorithms interact to support future drone and advanced air mobility operations.
Learning outcomes
- CM15 (Make technological improvements in the management systems of companies and institutions in the aeronautical sector, generating innovative and efficient solutions.) Make technological improvements in the management systems of companies and institutions in the aeronautical sector, generating innovative and efficient solutions.
- CM16 (Develop projects for the deployment and optimisation of aeronautical process operation, control and management systems, aimed to achieve efficiency and operational sustainability.) Develop projects for the deployment and optimisation of aeronautical process operation, control and management systems, aimed to achieve efficiency and operational sustainability.
- KM28 (Relate the components that make up an unmanned aerial system.) Relate the components that make up an unmanned aerial system.
- KM32 (Relate the fundamental concepts of urban air mobility and its applications.) Relate the fundamental concepts of urban air mobility and its applications.
- KM33 (Identify the fundamental concepts related to the carrying out of missions in the U-space framework: actors, services and applicable legislation.) Identify the fundamental concepts related to the carrying out of missions in the U-space framework: actors, services and applicable legislation.
- KM35 (Describe the key aspects of the regulatory framework applicable to aeronautical management, including the JAR, EASA and other relevant national and international frameworks.) Describe the key aspects of the regulatory framework applicable to aeronautical management, including the JAR, EASA and other relevant national and international frameworks.
- SM25 (Use specific software and management software tools in the planning, monitoring and analysis of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) mission results, in particular, in the U-space framework.) Use specific software and management software tools in the planning, monitoring and analysis of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) mission results, in particular, in the U-space framework.
Contents
PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF U-SPACE AND UTM
- Topic 1: Introduction to U-space and UTM
Introduction
Motivation for U-space and UTM
The growth of unmanned aircraft operations
From individual drone operations to traffic management
Main operational domains: urban air mobility, logistics, inspection, emergency response and public services
U-space as a digital infrastructure for low-level airspace management
Overview of the course storyline and evaluation approach
- Topic 2: Unmanned Aircraft and Operational Capabilities
Introduction
Main types of unmanned aircraft
Multirotor, fixed-wing, hybrid VTOL and eVTOL aircraft
Aircraft performance: speed, endurance, range, payload and altitude
Command and control links
Navigation, surveillance and communication capabilities
Operational limitations and contingency behaviour
Relationship between aircraft characteristics, mission design and operational risk
- Topic 3: UAS Operations and Airspace Context
Introduction
Types of UAS operations: VLOS, EVLOS and BVLOS
Open, specific and certified categories
Very low-level airspace and interaction with conventional aviation
Geographical zones and operational restrictions
Urban, rural, industrial and airport-adjacent environments
Operational constraints imposed by airspace structure
The role of airspace design in enabling safe UAS operations
- Topic 4: U-space Ecosystem and Stakeholders
Introduction
Main actors in the U-space ecosystem
UAS operators and remote pilots
U-space Service Providers
Common Information Service Providers
Air Navigation Service Providers and competent authorities
Municipalities, emergency services and infrastructure managers
Roles, responsibilities and information flows
Institutional and operational coordination in U-space environments
- Topic 5: International Overview of U-space and UTM Developments
Introduction
European U-space approach
United States UTM approach
ICAO perspective on UTM
SESAR, CORUS and European research initiatives
Advanced Air Mobility and Urban Air Mobility developments
Comparison between centralized, federated and service-based approaches
Lessons learned from international demonstrations and pilot projects
PART II: REGULATION, RISK AND OPERATIONAL AUTHORISATION
- Topic 6: European Regulatory Framework for UAS and U-space
Introduction
European UAS regulatory framework
Regulations related to UAS operations
Regulations related to U-space airspace and services
U-space airspace designation
Certification and oversight of U-space service providers
Relationship between U-space, ATM and ANS regulation
Regulatory challenges for scalable UAS operations
- Topic 7: Preparing a UAS Operation: Operational Risk and SORA
Introduction
Concept of Operations
Ground risk and air risk
Initial and residual risk
Mitigation measures
Strategic and tactical risk barriers
SAIL and operational safety objectives
The role of SORA in the specific category
Practical application of SORA to BVLOS operations
- Topic 8: Operational Authorisation and Evidence Package
Introduction
Operational authorisation process
Operational manuals and procedures
Normal, abnormal and emergency procedures
Crew competence and organisational requirements
Technical evidence and aircraft documentation
Command and control evidence
Containment, contingency and emergency response planning
From risk assessment to regulatory approval
PART III: DIGITAL REPRESENTATION AND U-SPACE SERVICES
- Topic 9: Digital Representation of UAS Missions
Introduction
Flight intent and U-plan concepts
Four-dimensional trajectories
Operational volumes and time windows
Trajectory uncertainty and operational buffers
Geofencing and geocaging
Mission discretisation and airspace occupancy
Impact of mission representation on capacity and safety
- Topic 10: Core U-space Services I
Introduction
Network identification service
Geo-awareness service
UAS flight authorisation service
Traffic information service
Input and output information required by each service
Service dependencies and data exchange
Operational examples of core U-space services
Limitations and failure modes of basic services
- Topic 11: Core and Advanced U-space Services II
Introduction
Weather information service
Conformance monitoring service
Tracking and surveillance support
Emergency information services
Strategic conflict detection support
Coordination between multiple service providers
Service discovery and synchronisation
Advanced services for dense and complex operations
PART IV: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, SAFETY AND SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
- Topic 12: Strategic Deconfliction and Demand-Capacity Balance
Introduction
Strategic conflict detection
Separation minima and four-dimensional conflict management
First-come, first-served approaches
Batch-based planning approaches
Delay, rejection and mission acceptance
Demand-capacity balance in U-space airspace
Efficiency, fairness and scalability in strategic planning
- Topic 13: Tactical Safety, Monitoring and Contingency Management
Introduction
Tactical conflict detection and alerting
Detect and avoid concepts
Loss of command and control
Navigation degradation and off-nominal behaviour
Dynamic airspace reconfiguration
Emergency landing and return-to-home procedures
Interaction with manned aviation and emergency operations
Safety barriers in nominal and non-nominal scenarios
- Topic 14: Evaluation, Simulation and Validation of U-space Concepts
Introduction
Why U-space systems need quantitative evaluation
Safety, capacity, efficiency and resilience indicators
Mission acceptance ratio, delay and airspace occupancy
Loss of separation, near mid-air collision and mid-air collision indicators
Monte Carlo simulation for rare safety events
Scenario design and sensitivity analysis
Validation of algorithms, services and operational concepts
Limitations of simulation-based assessment
PART V: DEPLOYMENT, FUTURE CHALLENGES AND INTEGRATED PROJECT
- Topic 15: Future U-space Deployment and Research Challenges
Introduction
From initial U-space deployment to mature operations
Multi-provider U-space environments
Integration with Urban Air Mobility and Advanced Air Mobility
Vertiports and ground infrastructure
Cybersecurity, data governance and liability
Automation and artificial intelligence in U-space services
Social acceptance and environmental impact
Open research challenges in U-space and UTM
Final project presentation and discussion
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theoretical lessons | 30 | 1.2 | KM28, KM32, KM33, KM35, SM25 |
| Lab sessions | 10 | 0.4 | CM15, CM16, KM28, KM32, KM33, KM35, SM25 |
| Assigments and Study | 100 | 4 | CM15, CM16, KM28, KM32, KM33, KM35, SM25 |
| In-class practical sessions | 10 | 0.4 | CM15, KM28, KM32, KM33, KM35 |
The general methodological approach of the course is based on the principle of using a variety of teaching strategies, with the aim of facilitating active participation and the construction of the learning process by the student. In this regard, the course will include lectures with the full group, as well as practical activities and follow-up sessions on the students’ work in smaller groups.
Specifically, the training activities included in this course are the following:
Theory classes
Presentation and discussion of the fundamental concepts of the course, with the full group.
Classroom practical sessions
Solving and discussing exercises aimed at reinforcing the theoretical concepts of the course, in small working groups.
Practical work/project
The core activity of the course consists of the development, in working teams, of a small project for which students will also be required to write a report and give an oral presentation. Through the development of this project, students are expected to put into practice the problem-solving method specific to the course and, in this way, work on the competences associated with its objectives.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Exam | 50% | 0 | 0 | CM16, KM28, KM32, KM33, KM35 |
| Problem sessions | 25% | 0 | 0 | CM15, CM16, KM28, KM32, KM33, KM35, SM25 |
| Lab sessions | 25% | 0 | 0 | CM15, CM16, KM28, KM32, KM33, KM35, SM25 |
This course does not include single assessment.
The final grade is calculated using the following formula, provided that a grade higher than 5 is obtained in the final exam:
Final grade = 0.25 × average grade of the practical classes + 0.25 × average grade of the seminars/classroom practical sessions + 0.50 × final exam grade
The final exam must be passed with a minimum grade of 5 in order for the percentages to be applied; otherwise, the course will be considered failed.
If the student fails the final exam, that is, obtains a grade lower than 5, they must take the resit exam, and their final grade will be the grade obtained in that exam. In order to pass, the student must obtain a minimum grade of 5.
The student will not pass the course unless all of the following requirements are met:
- Attend at least 40% of the theory classes.
- Participate in the classroom practical project/seminars.
- Participate in all practical classes or make up the practical sessions in which the student was unable to participate.
- Take the final exam, or take their corresponding resit exams.
Honours:
In order to be proposed for honours, the student must obtain a minimum grade of 9 in all course activities: seminars, practical classes and exams.
Repeat students:
Repeat students must attend the practical classes, seminars and take the final exam. The final grade is calculated using the following formula:
Note on copying and other irregularities
Without prejudice to any other disciplinary measures that may be deemed appropriate, and in accordance with the current academic regulations, any irregularities committed by a student that may lead to a variation in the grade will be graded with a zero (0). Assessment activities graded in this way and through this procedure will not be recoverable. If passing any of these assessment activities is required in order to pass the course, the course will be failed directly, with no opportunity to recover it during the same academic year. These irregularities include, among others:
- Total or partial copying of a practical assignment, report or any other assessment activity;
- Allowing another student to copy;
- Submitting group work that has not been carried out entirely by the members of the group;
- Submitting as one’s own materials produced by a third party, even if they are translations or adaptations, and, in general, submitting work containing elements that are not original and exclusive to the student;
- Having communication devices, such as mobile phones, smart watches, etc., accessible during individual theoretical-practical assessment tests, such as exams.
If the course is not passed because one of the assessment activities does not reach the required minimum grade, the numerical grade recorded in the student’s academic transcript will be the lower value between 4.5 and the weighted average of the grades.
As exceptions, the grade “Not assessable” will be awarded to students who do not participate in any of the assessment activities, and the numerical grade recorded in the student’s academic transcript will be the lower value between 3.0 and the weighted average of the grades if the student has committed irregularities in an assessment activity. In this case, passing the course by compensation will not be possible.
Bibliography
- CORUS 5 ConOps 1st Edition
- CORUS 5 ConOps 2nd Edition
- CORUS-5 ConOps
- Regulation (EU) 2021/664, Regulation (EU) 2021/665 y Regulation (EU) 2021/666; base UAS necesaria: Regulation (EU) 2019/947 y Regulation (EU) 2019/945.
- SORA 2.5
- ASTM 3548
- ASTM F3411
Software
Phyton
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 11 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 11 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 12 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 21 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 22 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 23 | Catalan/Spanish | second semester | afternoon |