Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) technology provider Altitude Angel will work with global mobile satellite communications provider Inmarsat to develop and deliver an advanced flight tracking and management capability for UAS.

Building on Altitude Angel’s Guardian UTM platform, the companies will jointly develop a ‘Pop-Up UTM’ capability that can be deployed anywhere it is required to manage beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS flights, without the need for ground-based communications infrastructure.

The companies will utilize Inmarsat’s global network of satellites and rely on Inmarsat’s substantial experience in Air Traffic Management (ATM) communication to make Altitude Angel’s Pop-Up UTM rapidly accessible and to deploy it across the world.

“The ability to almost instantly ‘pop-up’ safe, secure and fully operational UTM platforms in any environment, at any time, will give first responders, blue light services and aid organizations a valuable tool that could save countless lives,” says Phil Binks, Altitude Angel, head of Air Traffic Management.

“Altitude Angel and Inmarsat, in developing ‘Pop-Up UTM’, will be able to bring connectivity, clarity and automated air traffic control services for UAVs in even the most challenging of circumstances.”

Initially, the Pop-Up UTM will be developed to address the UTM needs of blue light emergency services and first responders who need aerial surveillance rapidly with little notice. A commercial, industry-focused product is expected to follow soon after.

Using this technology, emergency services will be able to remotely manage UAS, which will increase their range of safe operations in mixed airspace of manned and unmanned vehicles.

“We are excited to partner with Altitude Angel on this ground-breaking technology, which allows UAV flights to operate quickly, efficiently and safely,” says Anthony Spouncer, Inmarsat Aviation’s senior director of UAVs & UTM.