As drones become increasingly integrated into everyday life — whether for infrastructure inspection, surveillance, logistics, or urban mobility — the airspace they use must evolve to support safe and efficient operations. The SPATIO project, supported by the SESAR Joint Undertaking, addresses this pressing need by enhancing air traffic management for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly in the dense and dynamic low-altitude airspace known as U-space.

At its core, SPATIO focuses on developing a comprehensive separation management system to prevent mid-air collisions and coordinate multiple drone operations. With the expected rise in drone traffic, especially in urban areas, managing safe distances between drones — and between drones and crewed aircraft — is critical. SPATIO tackles this through a dual approach: Strategic Conflict Detection and Resolution, which optimizes airspace capacity by analyzing flight plans before the flight, and Tactical Conflict Prediction and Resolution, which handles real-time deconfliction during the flight. The Tactical service offers both manual and automated resolution methods, ensuring adherence to separation minima even in complex scenarios, with a ground-based safety net intervening if operators are unresponsive.

Unisphere’s contribution

Within this framework, Unisphere takes the lead in advancing Tactical Conflict Resolution, ensuring seamless integration with the strategic layer developed by other partners. The company defines the ConOps for Tactical Conflict Resolution, outlining how the service functions, interfaces with Strategic Conflict Resolution mechanisms, and fits into the broader U-space architecture. This includes specifying use-cases, operational scenarios, user requirements as well as communication protocols between drones, ground systems, and operators. Finally, fail-safe procedures for system outages are also developed. Leveraging insights from earlier initiatives like BUBBLES and TindAIR, Unisphere refines the ConOps iteratively using agile methodologies, leading the creation of the SPR/INTEROP-OSED deliverable (Safety and Performance Requirements/ and Interoperability Requirements and Operational Services and Environment Definition) guiding future U-space deployments.

Beyond conceptual design, Unisphere develops a real-time conflict resolution module integrated into Unifly’s U-space Service Provider platform. This module provides resolution of conflicts that are predicted by the Tactical Conflict Prediction  service using live drone positions, planned trajectories, and separation minima from the Separation Management Service. Upon identifying a conflict, the system generates resolution instructions, such as altitude adjustments or route modifications, and communicates them to operators. The logic behind these resolutions is developed in collaboration with the Universitat Politècnica de València, Boeing, Collins Aerospace, Unifly, and Indra adhering to predefined rules while complying with the ASTM F3548-21 interoperability standard.

To validate the system, Unisphere participates in lab and real-world flight tests targeting Technology Readiness Level 7. These tests, conducted in Spain with Indra and other partners, involve both simulated traffic and live drone operations. Scenarios include high-density urban flights, unexpected route deviations, and emergency aircraft intrusions, thoroughly assessing the system’s reliability under operational pressures.

A Holistic Approach to U-space

SPATIO’s innovations extend beyond conflict resolution. The project is developing a classification system for U-space airspace, defining which services are essential in different environments (e.g., urban, rural, industrial) and evaluating their regulatory, standardization, and cost-benefit aspects. This framework will enable adaptable airspace designs, ensuring services scale efficiently as drone traffic grows.

Equally critical is addressing societal acceptance. SPATIO establishes metrics for noise and visual impact, monitoring these factors during demonstrations. The project also develops public communication strategies to transparently share results, fostering community trust in drone operations.

The Future of Scalable Drone Operations

By advancing automated conflict resolution, regulatory alignment, and public trust, Unisphere within SPATIO lays the groundwork for large-scale UAV integration. The potential is vast: from urban air mobility to emergency response, drones will soon redefine transport and logistics. With SPATIO, Europe is ensuring this future is not just innovative, but safe, efficient, and socially embraced.