Platform System Design

NLR BVLOS technology demonstrator drone
Platform System Design

26 October 2022

R&D case: Detect And Avoid system (ADACORSA)

To enable safe airspace integration of unmanned aircraft, a Detect And Avoid (DAA) system is required to evade other (manned) aircraft. One solution is to use a Cooperative Traffic Sensor based on transponder signals. Such a sensor is not yet available with a small form factor suitable for unmanned aircraft. Within the Airborne Data Collection on Resilient System Architectures (ADACORSA) project, such a sensor will be developed and tested in cooperation with the partners.

Flight Operations and Certification

29 August 2022

First demonstration flights for AMU-LED successful

Drones delivering packages, flying out emergency medical supplies or carrying out inspections of buildings in the city: it sometimes sounds like science fiction, but before drones can genuinely fly through airspace in large numbers, an air traffic control system for unmanned aircraft must be set up. Together with its European project partners, Royal NLR is testing the precursor of one such system. The first results are promising: recent test flights as part of the European AMU-LED project went without a hitch.

Air Traffic Management

06 July 2022

Seven demonstrations across Europe of safe integration of unmanned aircraft

In just a few years, urban air mobility will be a reality, letting people travel conveniently in a way more suited to cities and their residents. Integrating these big future drones safely into our urban airspace requires a lot of coordination and a great deal of testing. Within the next few months, the European project AMU-LED will carry out several demonstration flights in urban environments in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Spain.

ESA Galileo constellation
Construction and Manufacturing

03 May 2022

NSO awards €500k for research into manufacturing of satellite propellant tanks

In close collaboration with the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) challenges entrepreneurs to develop space applications. Their products must contribute to the ESA programs. Dawn Aerospace has been awarded €500k for this through the phased innovation competition 'Small Business Innovation Research' (SBIR).

The NLR SCALAIR and Orange Aircraft teams
Flight Operations and Certification

07 April 2022

Maiden flight of Clean Sky 2’s scaled flight demonstrator

On 30 March 2022, the maiden flight of a scaled version of a single-aisle aircraft, known as the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD), took place. Under the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, co-funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and private industry, stakeholders will use the SFD to test and mature disruptive technologies that will enable significant reductions in energy consumption. The flight took place in Deelen (NL) and lasted 9 minutes, achieving a height of 400 metres (1,400 feet).

NLR’s electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) facility at NLR Marknesse
Platform System Design

03 March 2022

Reducing lead time and cost with early EMC compliance

Royal NLR has a long history as a one-stop shop for environmental testing and certification in aviation as well as the space sector. A good example being the NLR’s electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) facility, which offers its customers unrivaled modelling and testing programs to qualify electronics equipment used in planes, satellites and spacecraft. This expertise comes  from detailed knowledge gained through many years of research, modelling and extensive testing.