- Indra and Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía validate in Seville an anti-collision system for drones with a detection range of over one kilometer.
- The technology merges 360º cameras and electronic targeting radar with real-time onboard processing.
- The system has been tested in UTM scenarios from low altitude up to 2.000 meters and in complex flight profiles.
- Its goal is to enable safe operations with drone swarms and rescue, maritime control and firefighting missions.
The development of a reliable anti-collision system for drones It has become an essential component for these aircraft to operate normally in European airspace. In this context, Indra has taken an important step by validating in Spain a collision detection and avoidance solution designed for complex operations, from swarm flights to shared traffic scenarios with manned aircraft.
The company, in collaboration with Tecnobit-Oesía Group Within the framework of the Galician Aerospace Hub's strategic program, a test flight campaign has been completed, confirming the maturity of this technology. The system has demonstrated its ability to detect other UAVs at more than one kilometer and to automatically execute evasive maneuvers, anticipating the risk of impact.
Flight tests in Spain to validate the anti-collision system
The tests have been carried out in the Aerohíspalis airfield, in SevilleUsing a multirotor drone instrumented with cameras and radar, this UAV served as a test platform to evaluate the detection and avoidance system's capabilities against another unmanned aircraft from the TARSIS family, also developed by Indra.
During the campaign, the multirotor It identified the target drone at distances of up to one kilometerThis was sufficient for the onboard software to analyze the situation and define safe evasive maneuvers. The observed behavior confirmed that the system can react with the necessary advance notice in real-world operational scenarios, without requiring continuous intervention from the remote pilot.
The technicians recreated typical flight profiles in professional missionsThe tests involved approaches from different trajectories, altitudes, and speeds. Situations ranged from very low-altitude flights to operations at around 2.000 meters, reflecting the operational ranges planned for surveillance, emergency, or security support missions.
These conditions allowed the system's operation to be tested in environments comparable to those of a framework UTM (Unmanned Air Traffic Management)This scenario involves multiple drones and other airspace users. Validating these types of scenarios is key for the technology to scale up to regular use in Europe.
Onboard sensor and data fusion technology
The heart of Indra's anti-collision system lies in the combination of multiple sensors with high processing capacity on boardThe platform integrates several cameras installed on the drone that provide 360-degree coverage around the aircraft, making it easier to detect small or distant targets in any direction.
The information generated by the cameras is supplemented by data from a electronic targeting radarThis component is especially useful in situations of low visibility, cloud cover, smoke, or adverse weather conditions. It is crucial for maintaining the ability to monitor the surroundings even when optical sensors lose effectiveness.
The key lies not only in the number of sensors, but in the intelligent data fusion in real timeThe system continuously processes images and radar echoes through advanced algorithms, which allow it to distinguish between relevant objects and elements of the environment that do not pose a threat, reducing false alarms and refining the drone's response.
Based on this, the aircraft has a onboard computing capability It is capable of evaluating its own trajectory and that of other vehicles, projecting potential conflicts, and selecting the most appropriate evasive maneuver. All of this is done autonomously, reducing the workload of the human operator and increasing the overall safety level of the operation.
Complex operations: drone swarms and shared traffic
The detection and avoidance system tested by Indra is not intended only for isolated flights. The company emphasizes that its ability to anticipate and respond This is especially relevant in advanced operations, such as those in which swarms of drones are used that share an area of operation and carry out coordinated missions.
In these types of scenarios, where dozens of UAVs may be present in the same airspace, having technology that prevents collisions between platforms is practically essential. Indra's solution aims precisely to reinforce that safety, making it easier for each drone to... detect others, react autonomously and maintain minimum distances without harming the overall mission.
Furthermore, the system is designed to facilitate the Integration of drones into airspaces shared with manned aircraftThis is a matter of particular concern for regulators and air traffic managers in Europe. Safe coexistence with commercial aircraft, helicopters, and emergency aircraft depends on equipping UAVs with capabilities comparable to those required in conventional aviation.
In this sense, Indra's technology aligns with the requirements set by European regulations for beyond line of sight (BVLOS) operations and for environments with high density of unmanned traffic. A robust anti-collision system becomes a necessary condition for drones to be able to deploy their full potential in civil, security, and defense tasks.
Hybrid VTOL platforms and high-impact applications
The project is part of a broader line of work in which Indra and Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía are developing VTOL-type UAS platforms (Vertical takeoff and landing) systems geared towards high value-added services. These systems combine the typical maneuverability of a multirotor with the flight efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft, allowing them to cover greater distances without sacrificing the ability to operate in confined spaces.
The platforms on which the anti-collision system is being integrated have hybrid, electric and combustion propulsionThis approach seeks to maximize autonomy and extend mission range. The aim is to respond to prolonged operations such as surveillance, emergency support, or critical infrastructure monitoring without relying excessively on frequent refueling.
According to data provided by the company, these drones will be prepared to transport payloads of up to 20 kilogramsThis capability opens the door to equipping them with advanced sensors, high-resolution cameras, communications equipment, or instruments specific to each type of mission, from thermal cameras for fires to sensors for detecting spills at sea.
Among the planned applications, the following stand out: search and rescue operationswhere rapid deployment and flight safety are paramount; the detection of marine spills and other environmental threats, which require covering large areas in detail; and support for the forest fire extinguishingproviding real-time information to teams on the ground.
Against this backdrop, the anti-collision system becomes a basic component so that these platforms can work in extreme situations, in areas with reduced visibility or sharing space with manned emergency aircraft, minimizing the risk of incidents in scenarios that are already complex.
Indra's positioning in the European drone ecosystem
The validation of this anti-collision system is taking place in parallel with other moves by Indra reinforces its commitment to the drone market and unmanned air traffic managementThe company has announced the acquisition of assets linked to GuardianUTM, the modular flight management platform from the British company Altitude Angel.
GuardianUTM has a customer base made up of dozens of airports and hundreds of thousands of usersIt integrates cloud services for mission planning, flight approval, and conflict resolution between unmanned aerial vehicles. Indra intends to add this technology to its product portfolio to complement its UTM solutions and facilitate coordination between drones and other air traffic.
This operation is in addition to the acquisition of drone business of the Spanish company AertecThis expands the portfolio of platforms and capabilities that the multinational can offer to civilian and institutional clients. With this acquisition, Indra consolidates its position as a leading player in the deployment of UAV-related technologies in Europe.
The company has also conveyed to the community institutions its desire to to contribute these capabilities to the defense of the continentIn a context where initiatives such as the deployment of anti-drone barriers on the eastern flank of Europe are being studied, the development of systems that combine traffic management, protection against threats, and the safe operation of UAV swarms fits into this technological reinforcement strategy.
The advancement of the anti-collision system tested at Aerohíspalis, together with the integration of UTM solutions and the incorporation of new platforms, paints a picture in which Indra aspires to play a relevant role in the configuration of future European airspace for drones, both in the civil field and in the field of security and defense.
With its combination of 360º optical sensors, electronic targeting radar, and advanced real-time processing, the anti-collision system developed by Indra and Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía is shaping up to be a a key so that drones can operate safely in high-traffic environments, take on critical missions such as rescue, surveillance and firefighting, and at the same time fit into the regulatory and operational framework that the European Union is defining for the next generation of unmanned aircraft.