Drone lanes above 400 feet? New research project mulls viability

Uncrewed traffic management (UTM) specialist AirMatrix says it has received funding to map cellular signal data up to 1,000 feet. The company’s new research project will eventually help to set up the necessary telecom infrastructure for passenger air taxis and drones carrying heavy payloads above 400 feet.

The National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) has roped in Toronto-headquartered AirMatrix for its new development project seeking to enhance cellular signal mapping capabilities from 400 up to 1,000 feet. The aim is to enable drones and urban area mobility to scale safely and economically in complex airspace.

AirMatrix, whose software allows for the creation of precise autonomous drone roads, is deploying systems in cities to give drone operators the necessary data sets required by regulators. Its new project, meanwhile, involves collecting telecommunications strength data at higher altitudes in the…