During a ski tour in the Dolomites at the beginning of 2017, Ralph Ciech reaches the product idea for the development of a LiDAR distance measuring technique for helicopters and flying drones.

A rescue operation in which a helicopter touched the rock face with its rotor blades resulted in material damage of 500,000 to 1,000,000€ depending on the model of the machine. The damage to persons is much greater because the rescue had to be stopped.

This type of accident is not an isolated incident and the persons to be rescued or evacuated cannot be brought to safety in a timely manner. In most cases such accidents are fatal and cause enormous material damage.

In the near future, conflicts between drones and helicopters cannot be ruled out; there is an urgent need for action to close the safety gap.

LIDAR

• Hi-Res 3D Flash LIDAR sensor technology
• Viewing angle Lidar: 27 ° x 12 °
• Lidar detection area up to 20 m
• Temperature range: -40 ° C to +85 ° C
• Weight: 250 g
• Power loss: typ. 6.5 W

RADAR

• Dimensions: 70 x 60 x 30 mm
• Weight: 190 g
• Viewing angle: ± 25 ° (36m) ± 42 ° (12m)
• Temperature range: -40 ° C to +85 ° C

Video

• Imager Size: 1,280 x 960 pixels
• Field of View: Horizontal 50 ° Vertical 28 °
• Resolution: 25 pixels / ° 30 frames / second
• 3D measuring range: ~ 55 m
• Operating temperature -40 ... + 85 ° C
• Dimensions (L x W x H) 160 x 60 x 32 mm

The system consists of a number of systems that can guarantee a complete detection of all obstacles.

Similar to distance sensors in passenger cars, the FDC-System consists of a 360° 3D laser scanner and other sensors that can be used for helicopters and drones. LiDAR laser measuring instruments are increasingly used in passenger cars for safety and collision protection. Measurement sensors detect the distance of a flying object to an obstacle, as soon as there is a risk of collision, the system warns the pilot by means of an audio/video signal or steers autonomously.

The product consists of 2 identical units which are used for the complete monitoring of the rotor blades and the tail rotor. The signal is transmitted acoustically to the pilot. When approaching the obstacle, the frequency and the volume increase. The volume is lowered if the obstacle persists for a longer period of time in order not to distract the pilot. If the distance or another obstacle is changed, the volume increases again.

FDC-System will be equipped with mobile 4G Lte/5G, IoT (Internet of Thing) and Galileo satellite reception, allowing a centralized computer CAMS (Centralized Aerospace Management System) to prevent airspace management and collisions.

CAMS (Centralized Aerospace Management System), the FDC's centralized control system, can provide additional safety for the increasing volume of air traffic in the drone sector and optimally coordinate airways and energy-efficient air traffic in the future.

The aim of the FDC-System is to sell a cost-effective system to a broad mass of users. Each FDC-System device will be equipped with an e-SIM and will be part of the IoT (Internet of Things) infrastructure. According to current market studies and forecasts, the market potential can be estimated at up to 2.51 billion euros. (helicopters, manned and unmanned drones).

CAMS (Centralized Aerospace Management System) will become the Digital Air Traffic Controller of the immediate future. The central server will subdivide the airspace and assign the fastest, most efficient and safest flight route to each flying object for the defined period of the flight.

SAR (search and rescue) will have priority over airspace and will be able to override all drone traffic. Registration with the CAMS system will provide drone manufacturers with an enormous increase in safety and help regulate the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Air regulations can be included in CAMS and thus restricted areas such as nature reserves, human collections, military zones, private areas, etc. can be taken into account.

Functional description CAMS

Before starting unmanned and manned aircraft, e.g. delivery service from Amazon, DHL and manned taxi drones, the device must log on to the CAMS server online via LTE/5G and transmit important information such as start and destination, category, owner, maintenance status, etc. The device must also be able to log on to the CAMS server via LTE/5G. Immediately after the transmission of the relevant data, the flying object receives a data package via LTE/5G which contains information about the flight route, restricted areas, obstacles, weather and efficiency. The CAMS server calculates the best flight route for all participants, coordinates and transmits it. Collisions with other aircraft can now be 100% avoided.

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt from Germany, (LBA) can manage licenses for users and thus keeps track of all aircraft.

Function description of CAMS

[A] Airspace data

• Galileo Satellite ¹: Geopositioning, Navigation, SAR;
• Weather satellite: Weather conditions on the flight corridor;
• Geosatellite: current conditions of the earth's surface under flight corridor (e.g. snow conditions, natural obstacles, catastrophes, fires, etc.)

[B] Flight object data

• Geo-positioning: Geocoordinates of start and destination, current position of your own flying object, current position of nearby flying objects;
• Flight object data: object ID, user ID, weight, airspeed, range, etc..;

[C] Country data

• Disaster control: natural disasters, danger zones, current fire brigade data;
• Publicly protected airspace: airports, airspace closed for military reasons;
• Public security (police / military): major social events (e.g. sports, music, demos, festivals, etc.), search actions, armed conflicts, etc..;
• Ecological protected areas: Habitats of protected animals, nature reserves, etc.;
• Privately protected airspace: residential areas, other privately protected airspace

[D] CAMS (Centralized Aerospace Management System)

• CAMS receives data packet from flying object via mobile radio
• CAMS calculates the optimal flight route and transmits it to the corresponding flying objects using mobile phones.
• Only now does the aircraft have the 100% certainty of reaching its destination collision-free and is thus authorized to take off.
• The MEOSAR system serves as a backup for the mobile network.

The unique selling proposition ("USP") of FDC technology must be sought and found in the combination or integration of LiDAR, radar and video measurement technology with flight information systems. FDC's solution is a cost-effective "modular technology kit" with considerably more functions and application possibilities than competitor sensors. After appropriate certification, this kit can be installed on any flying object or retrofitted. This applies to existing helicopter fleets as well as to new flying objects. From a technical point of view, it is a distance control system combined with data communication modules.

The system is therefore open and scalable. It can be extended with Galileo, LTE-5G, IoT, etc. It makes the FDC-System fit for the future, as it can be connected directly to a centrally managed flight management system ("CAMS").

Looking at the research and development trends in the aviation sector, it can be seen that many companies are investing in the innovation of drones and comparable missiles.

The current race of the automotive industry on the subject of autonomous driving shows us that numerous companies are developing different techniques to reach the known levels 4 and 5. The development of autonomous driving could be accelerated if the automotive industry worked together on a single system/concept.

With CAMS, FDC-System wants to set standards and be a pioneer.

The manufacturing cost of the base product is € 4,500 and the market entry price is € 17,000 for the FDC base product.

The license for the registration of a drone at CAMS is in the range of 100€ to 250€.

The following products are targeted:

Existing contacts with Air Rescue Bolzano and transport companies can generate a turnover of 25 units.

The next step will be direct end customer business, i.e. equipping and retrofitting existing fleets of helicopters and flying drones, especially in the areas of air rescue and helicopter transport service.

Manufacturers of unmanned drones, parcel drones and game drones can offer their customers an enormous safety advantage by registering with CAMS. Users such as Amazon, DHL and many others will be very interested in the safe transport of their parcels.

The aim is to convince the government of Upper Bavaria of the advantages of CAMS and thus to facilitate the upper hand in compliance with the aviation regulations.

Further sales opportunities:

• Service / Maintenance
• APP for gliders, paragliders, parachutists, base jumpers
• annual license fees for registration at C.A.M.S.

The next step will be direct end customer business, i.e. equipping / retrofitting existing fleets of helicopters and flying drones, especially in the areas of air rescue and helicopter transport service.

Manufacturers of unmanned drones, parcel drones and game drones can offer their customers an enormous safety advantage by registering with CAMS. Users such as Amazon, DHL and many others will be very interested in the safe transport of their parcels.

The aim is to convince the government of Upper Bavaria of the advantages of CAMS and thus to facilitate the upper hand in compliance with the aviation regulations.

Distribution strategy

The FDC founders have held talks with several air rescue companies (Search and Rescue "SAR") and helicopter transport service providers in the Alpine region in order to verify the usefulness and marketability of the product idea. The response from all companies in the industry was extremely positive.

Potential customers are insurance companies for helicopters and drones.

Existing contacts with Air Rescue Bolzano and transport companies can generate a turnover of 25 units. Successful discussions with Munich RE and the ADAC have already taken place and we have already been assured of future cooperation.

Market Helicopter

Current number of helicopters in Europe: 36,750 units

These statistics show only the number of Airbus helicopters.

According to current research, the price of the competitors' basic model is approximately € 50,000 (Airbus Helicopters, Augusta Westland). FDC-System offers a scalable overall system which can be retrofitted as a cost-effective construction kit and expanded as required by the customer. Small drones are updated software-wise by registering a license with CAMS.

Direct end customer business, i.e. equipping and retrofitting of existing fleets of helicopters and flying drones, especially in the areas of SAR air rescue and helicopter transport service. Great interest in air rescue in Bolzano and Trentino.

Insurance companies for helicopters and drones are showing great interest, these will offer FDC-System to their customers as an additional security and thus get the possibility of a discounted policy. UAV manufacturers can implement CAMS registration directly and thus offer their end customers additional in-flight security.

The aim is for the German Federal Aviation Authority (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) to adopt the system as a regulation for all missiles in the close range.

Current number of helicopters in Germany: Military 800, Civil 745

Current number of helicopters worldwide in units:

• Active General Aviation Aircraft        360,000
• Passenger (Commercial) Aircraft      17,770
• Military Aircraft          89,129
• Civil Helicopters         26,500
• Military Helicopters    29,700

Current number of helicopters worldwide in percent:

• 46.1% in North America
• 18.2% in Europe
• 12.7% in former Soviet Union
• 12.3% in Asia/Pacific region
• 7.2% in South America
• 3.4% in Middle East
• 0.1% in Africa

2018 drones sold 23.8 million

This modular technology kit from FDC allows new development opportunities to be identified from a perspective that suggests an interesting after-sales market. Extension and retrofitting of new FDC modules, periodic O&M services to ensure the suitability and precision of FDC modules.

Primarily, the sum is used for the following activities:

• Development and completion of the FDC-System prototype
• CAMS software development
• Pre-marketing and laboratory equipment and test flights.

The "INNOspace" competition organised by DLR and the LuFo funding programme complement and support the R&D of the FDC-System and CAMS.

FDC-System has won the ESA BIG 2018 incubation competition. Start of the cooperation is 15.05.2018.

Prize money of AZO 25.000€ and 25.000€ from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs

Discounted loan of €50,000 in relation to ESA-BIC from Kreissparkasse München Starnberg. Total liquidity until 05.2020, € 100,000

FDC-System submitted and successfully completed the LuFo 2019 funding application on 15.01.2019.

Total amount of the application 734.000

Funding ratio 65%

Grant amount 477,100

Since 2017, during the development of the FDC-System and CAMS, a growing network of partnerships has been established to build the knowledge base for development within and outside the FDC-System team.

FDC-System's contacts include companies such as ESA-BIS, AIRBUS, TUM, DLR, etc.