The ASPRID project makes headway in testing system to protect airports from drone incursions.

The companies participating in the ASPRID Project, which studies innovative ways to protect airports from drone incursions as part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme, carried out a laboratory test in a gaming exercise format to validate the operational concept of the system.

The aim was to demonstrate that the ASPRID system has a positive impact in reacting to drone threats in the airport environment, by enacting scenarios in which real-time airport traffic simulation software tools have been used, as well as to develop a reporting environment during the project. ENAIRE air traffic controllers and experts from Aena’s Safety and Operations divisions participated in the simulations.

Information from qualitative and quantitative data collected during the exercise, by means of questionnaires conducted among experts, will be evaluated taking into account human performance, system efficiency and the impact on airport security.

The test was organised at the facilities of Spain’s National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), along with SoulSoftware SRL, Aerospace Laboratory for Innovative Components (ALI Scarl) and the Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali (CIRA).

ASPRID has developed an operational concept and system architecture to protect airport operations from unwanted drones by identifying technologies, procedures and regulations that can help the airport environment recover from any disruption as quickly and efficiently as possible.
The two-year project lasts involves seven European entities from Spain, Italy and France, with experts in the different sectors involved: airports, research, innovation technologies, drone operations, IT, safety and security.

The companies that make up the consortium are: Aena, Aerospace Laboratory for Innovative Components (ALI Scarl), Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali (CIRA), ENAIRE, National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA), Office National d’Etudes et de Recherches Aérospatiales (ONERA) and SoulSoftware SRL.

The ASPRID project is funded by SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking as part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 892036.