We provide services and solutions for innovative air mobility to facilitate effective aerial data collection and logistics using unmanned aircraft systems. The focus of our projects is on enabling technologies, business viability, desirability and finding value in the application of drones.
Key facts
Innovative air mobility enables cost-effective, autonomous and carbon neutral aerial operations and logistics for both civilian and defence purposes.
The industry is set to grow significantly due to recent advancements in technology, evolving security landscapes, regulatory changes and market trends. Now is the perfect time to grasp the opportunity.
We offer comprehensive research know-how and infrastructure for innovative aerial services, airspace management, connectivity, sensors, propulsion systems, swarming, user interfaces, cybersecurity, arctic operations, AI and socio-techno-economic business cases for different stakeholders.
Time to market is now – rapid developments in novel aircraft technologies and their applications
Digitalisation, autonomy and low-emission propulsion technologies are driving the growth in uncrewed aviation. Drones are proving to enhance efficiency across various sectors. Cities and municipalities, for example, are to initiating public-private partnerships for practical applications, leveraging the drones’ multi-purpose capabilities and enabling highly scalable drone fleet operator business models. Innovative air mobility services are expected to significantly impact sectors, such as industrial applications, healthcare services, urban infrastructure and emergency response operations.
As the level of automation in modern aircrafts advances swiftly, new services with reduced labor requirements and costs are being developed.
In the future, airspace management systems, such as U-space and unmanned traffic management (UTM), will ensure the safe integration of crewed and uncrewed aviation. Fleet management solutions will enable centralised operation of multiple drones for safe, large-scale operations. At the same time, the integration of drones and mobile robotics is evolving towards smart mobility concepts.
Drone swarms can effectively improve situational awareness, covering vast areas for surveys, monitoring natural events and conducting search and rescue operations in remote locations. Integrating swarm sensors with existing surveillance technologies provides enhanced monitoring capabilities from satellites to stationary sensors.
Modern innovative air mobility technologies play a crucial role in collecting real-time multisensory data, such as video feeds and thermal and hyperspectral sensors, to support data-driven businesses. Currently, new use cases are being developed in intelligent infrastructure inspections, area surveillance and last-mile logistics.
Innovative air mobility enables carbon neutral, fast and efficient operations
Whether it be transporting cargo or gathering data, innovative air mobility offers numerous benefits.
Autonomy and efficiency: Innovative air mobility enables efficient operations by using drones that can be controlled remotely, allowing for tasks like aerial data collection to be performed more effectively than with traditional methods.
Carbon neutrality: Drones are often powered by electric or low-emission propulsion technologies, making them more environmentally friendly compared to traditional aircraft that use fossil fuels.
Cost-effectiveness: Drones can cut costs in scenarios such as replacing crewed aircrafts for surveillance or data collection tasks. Higher levels of autonomy also lead to reduced labor costs.
Enhanced fleet operations: Current small-scale operations will be gradually replaced by fleet operators, providing large operational footprints for various end customer purposes. This shift allows fleet operators to benefit from economies of scale in both investments and operational expenditures, enabling them to provide competitive pricing and service level agreements to their customers.
Precision: Drones provide high-precision data collection, which is beneficial for tasks like environmental monitoring and infrastructure inspection. While satellite imagery captures high-altitude views, drones offer close-up and precise images at lower altitudes.
Speed: In addition to accuracy, drones also expedite operations. They can swiftly deliver items, such as spare parts, to remote locations or transport blood to accident scenes, ensuring rapid delivery regardless of the need. There are also numerous opportunities in delivery services for consumers in both urban and remote areas where timely delivery of items, such as food and other supplies, is essential.
New business opportunities: The development of innovative air mobility creates new business opportunities and exciting career opportunities for the future workforce.
Drones are low-emission tools to create efficiency through autonomous aerial services. Smart inspections, logistics, area surveillance and urban air mobility will have several new use cases for drones.
Business viability, desirability and feasibility: Keys to realising the potential of drones
When we think of drones, we often envision futuristic scenarios, such as the use of autonomous drones for transporting people and implementing aerial taxis. However, these visions are currently limited by significant regulatory challenges and safety concerns, which hinder the realisation of such ambitious ideas. Additionally, current technological challenges like limited flight times further complicate the feasibility of these grand ideas.
To reach that point eventually, we first need to lay a strong foundation to build upon. What the industry needs now is prompt action towards revenue-generating business models and novel business ecosystems grounded in reality. Focusing on practical innovation aspects like viability, desirability and feasibility are critical for achieving success.
Partner with VTT to find value in the application of innovative air mobility
VTT is a trusted, experienced partner with extensive research know-how and cutting-edge infrastructure for advanced drone research and development. We have a long history of leveraging drones for data gathering and remote monitoring purposes, and we’ve successfully piloted cutting-edge drone capabilities in numerous projects spanning both civil and defence applications.
We help our customers navigate the intricate world of regulations when it comes to innovative air mobilty and offer a realistic perspective that emphasises the importance of business feasibility for success. Safety is our top priority as we uphold a rigorous safety culture in everything we do.
Our research infrastructure includes several outdoor test areas, a multi-purpose fleet of drones and airspace management (U-space) systems. We own and operate the VTT Icing Wind Tunnel – an indoor environmental chamber where various real weather conditions can be replicated. Our operational licenses enable partnerships with drone system operators and other organisations in practical, real-world operational settings.
We have a strong track record of successfully executing projects on a global scale. Our dedicated innovative air mobility research team comprises world-class experts from diverse industrial and academic backgrounds, backed by VTT's multidisciplinary research in relevant technologies and business models. We also offer flexible licensing options for our intellectual property.
We can help you tap into the growing markets of innovative air mobility and overcome obstacles together.
Areas in which we can support you
Here are some of the research, development and innovation areas we can support you in:
Airspace management: U-space and associated services
Application areas and use cases in B2B and B2C, logistics and aerial operations
Autonomy and remote operations
Computer vision
Concepts of Operations (ConOps)
Connectivity
Counter-UAS
Cybersecurity
Human-machine interfaces (HMIs)
Hydrogen and fuel cells
Robotics technology for air and ground operations
Safety and reliability engineering
Sensors and radars
Socio-techno-economic business cases
Swarming
How to work with us
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Idea
How can drones assist in solving your challenges and creating new growth opportunities? Together, we define the project requirements, vision and goals. -
Screening
What are the preliminary implementation roadmaps and scenarios to address the issues at hand? We evaluate and present a potential solution to the challenges. -
Conceptual study
What is the optimal or most plausible route forward? We can examine the ConOps on a small scale and provide a preliminary socio-techno-economic analysis. -
Proof of concept
We carry out flight and ground operations and/or other proof of concept elements in either simulated or real-world settings, as well as validation and demonstration activities. -
Handover towards industrialisation
We provide you with the final report, hand over the developed solution with appropriate support and advise you on how to proceed. We also identify potential commercial suppliers for industrial-grade solutions and and provide assistance in assessing and acquiring their services.
Meet our world-class innovative air mobility experts
VTT’s team of experts is happy to support you in harnessing innovative air mobility to benefit your business.
Flight operations & airspace management
Concepts of operations & human-machine interfaces
Techno-economic business models
Connectivity, urban air mobility, semiautonomous electric aviation, mobility services and intelligent transportation systems
U-space, urban air mobility, innovative air mobility and advanced air mobility
VTT is highly connected with Finnish and international key partners
VTT partners with various organisations on initiatives that advance drone technologies and business. Some examples of these partnerships include:
- SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking
- The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
- International Forum for Aviation Research (IFAR)
- The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
- European Defence Agency (EDA)
- European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL)
In addition, we maintain a vast network of industrial partners who can be invited to participate in industrial collaboration projects on national and European level. Some examples of our projects include:
- AiRMOUR (Horizon Europe funded)
- Drolo I & II (Business Finland)
- FUAVE & FireMan (Research Council of Finland)
- SWARM-C3 (European Defence Fund)
- AIMO Air Mobility as Operator Business (Industrial collaboration funding)
