Project: ENSURE (ATM-Uspace Interface and Airspace Reconfiguration Service)
Building on the foundations of the Dynamic Airspace Reconfiguration (DAR) concept and ATM interfaces developed in project AURA, the SESAR-funded ENSURE project aims to further automate and streamline the process for seamless data exchange between air traffic management (ATM) systems and unmanned air traffic management (U-space) systems.
The challenge
The increasing presence of unmanned aircraft in European airspace necessitates a unified interface between ATM and U-space systems to prevent collisions and ensure safe traffic segregation.
Furthermore, ATM interfaces are required to dynamically reconfigure and delegate airspace, and
visualise the impact of airspace changes to tactical air traffic controllers.
The solution
Our solution enables the safe and efficient coexistence of manned and unmanned aircraft in shared airspace. The common information service provision (CISP) interface and user interfaces for airspace managers and tactical controllers developed in ENSURE will help evolve current standards and regulations, facilitating growth in the UAS market. This will allow organisations like ATC the Netherlands (LVNL) and the Royal Netherlands Navy to conduct safe operations in shared airspace, while aligning with U-space services definitions for future integration.
What we did
Based on the definitions of a CISP and related DAR procedures, we have designed user interfaces for the two key ATM roles in the DAR concept: airspace managers and air traffic controllers. These interfaces facilitate flexible airspace sharing between manned and unmanned traffic, enabling safe drone operations over the North Sea. NLR tested the interfaces through real-time simulations and with a drone demonstration flight in 2025-2026.
Project partners:
Project coordinator: Indra
Click here for all partners in the consortium
Project timeline:
2023-2026
This project has received funding from the SESAR Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under GA no. 101114732.
The text only reflects the author’s view. The European Union and SESAR JU are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
