Unifly highlights the success of drone integration in the port of Antwerp-Bruges

Unifly has celebrated five years since its involvement in the SAFIR (Safe and Flexible Integration of Initial U-space Services in a Real Environment) project, which aims to revolutionize drone operations in the port of Antwerp-Bruges.

The initiative has reportedly demonstrated the practical benefits of drone technology in one of Europe's largest and busiest ports through extensive testing and practical applications.

The project demonstrated viable and robust drone operations, including surveillance flights, package delivery, medical transport and infrastructure mapping.

The SAFIR project was significant for the operational integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in complex environments such as the port of Antwerp-Bruges. SAFIR covered over 120 square kilometers (km²) of critical infrastructure and demonstrated that U-Space services can be deployed safely and reliably, significantly increasing security by enabling port authorities to quickly and safely manage, inspect and control large areas control.

Following the success of SAFIR, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges became the geozone manager, monitoring and regulating drone operations within its jurisdiction. To support this role, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges implemented Unifly's UAS Traffic Management (UTM) platform, which enables real-time monitoring, coordination and management of drone flights.

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According to the company, Unifly's Pre-U-Space system has opened up numerous business opportunities by facilitating the expansion of Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights. The integration of the system into the eID and RF infrastructure ensures robust compliance monitoring by detecting non-compliant drones.

At the same time, the digitalized and secure flight approval process has optimized processes so that drone operators can obtain the necessary approvals more quickly and easily.

Bob Spanoghe, drone project manager at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “The port of the future has a network of autonomous drones that fly BVLOS over the port area several times a day and transmit data in real time.” The SAFIR project was a big step forward, so that this could become a reality.”

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Joris Cleiren, Creative Director of SKY VISION bv, drone operator at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, said: “The Unifly platform has played a crucial role for us. What used to take up to three weeks to obtain flight permits now takes just a day.

“This has opened up new business opportunities and allowed us to work more efficiently and respond more quickly to customer needs in the Port of Antwerp.”

In the area of ​​drone use, HHLA Sky, part of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), recently demonstrated its solutions for effective drone use in Hamburg.