In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, INVOLI has firmly established itself as a provider of air traffic awareness solutions, delivering state-of-the-art hardware and software designed to ensure safe and efficient airspace management. The company’s proprietary network of ground-based receivers offers a comprehensive, real-time view of both manned and unmanned aircraft. With its INVOLI.live platform and API capabilities, INVOLI is equipping airports, ANSPs, and drone operators with unmatched traffic awareness.
DroneTalks Co-founder and CEO, Eszter Kovács, caught up with Manu Lubrano, INVOLI’s Co-founder and CEO, at Amsterdam Drone Week 2024, to explore how the company is leading innovation in air traffic detection and drone tracking.
INVOLI: Provider of air traffic detection, drone tracking, and real-time airspace solutions for aviation and UTM industries
INVOLI provides real-time air traffic awareness solutions for industries that require precise monitoring of aircraft in various environments. Their technology supports a wide range of applications, including aviation safety, drone operations, and airspace management. INVOLI collaborates with organizations such as the Federal Aviation Administration and the Global UTM Association to contribute to the safe and efficient integration of manned and unmanned aircraft into shared airspace.
From crisis to innovation: How a Nepal earthquake sparked the creation of INVOLI, revolutionising drone traffic awareness
The concept behind INVOLI emerged from a critical need within the drone operator community. In 2015, a devastating earthquake struck Nepal. During the rescue efforts, a group of drone operators, skilled in cartography, travelled to assist. However, they were prohibited from flying due to the heavy presence of helicopters in the airspace. This situation highlighted the necessity for a unified platform that could display both manned and unmanned traffic, as drones can easily avoid other aircraft once their positions are known.
It then became evident that without full traffic awareness, the future of drone operations could be severely limited. Recognising this, the team began developing INVOLI, with the goal of ensuring a safer and more integrated airspace for both drones and manned aircraft. As such, INVOLI was founded with the mission to ‘safely and efficiently open the sky to all flying objects, as a universal and connected medium for business’.
INVOLI: finalists in GENIUS NY Business Accelerator
INVOLI was recently announced as one of the five finalists for the GENIUS NY Cohort 8, a program known for supporting innovative companies working on drone technologies and uncrewed aerial systems. This selection places INVOLI in a position to collaborate with other industry pioneers and further its research and development in low-altitude airspace management. As part of the year-long program, INVOLI will engage with experts and other startups at The Tech Garden in Syracuse, gaining access to resources that can help enhance its technological solutions for safer skies.
INVOLI’s G-1090
The INVOLI G-1090 air traffic receiver is designed to support comprehensive airspace surveillance, offering real-time data on both manned and unmanned aircraft. With a weather-resistant IP66-rated enclosure and FCC and CE certifications, it can withstand challenging environmental conditions. The device uses multilateration technology to provide precise aircraft position information, making it suitable for enhancing safety and compliance in various airspace management scenarios. This solution is built to meet the needs of diverse operational settings, contributing to better situational awareness and coordination across different sectors.
The G-1090 air traffic receiver is available in different versions, including UAT, FLARM, and Remote ID, catering to various needs of the industry. It integrates seamlessly with the INVOLI.live platform, offering free access to air traffic data, with optional paid services for enhanced features like data fusion and multilateration.
INVOLI.live: Enhancing safety with instant air traffic monitoring
The G-1090 receiver integrates with INVOLI's live platform, INVOLI.live, offering real-time air traffic data displayed on a user-friendly map interface. This platform enables users to view both their drones and nearby aircraft, providing critical data such as aircraft ICAO codes, altitude, speed, and ascent/descent status, ensuring operators can make informed decisions to avoid air traffic conflicts. The interface includes a clickable aircraft view, allowing users to track the last 10 minutes of flight trajectory.
This ready-to-use system is ideal for covering areas where BVLOS and automated drone missions are conducted, particularly in test areas looking to implement U-Space or UTM airspace systems. It provides a comprehensive hardware and software package to support complex drone operations, including precise air traffic visualization through multilateration and the detection of ADS-B, Mode S, and Mode A/C signals.
Additionally, INVOLI.live offers an "Alerting Zones" feature, which allows for the creation of 3D surveillance zones that issue alerts when an object enters the defined area. The platform supports multiple map layers and customizable uploads using .kml files, enhancing its adaptability to various operational needs. The solution is scalable, affordable, and supported by INVOLI’s team to engage key stakeholders and facilitate operational deployment.
How INVOLI’s technology reduced light pollution in German wind farms
In Germany, a new regulation was introduced to address the issue of visual pollution caused by the red blinking lights on wind turbines. As Manu Lubrano explains, these lights, intended to make turbines visible to aircraft, were considered a nuisance when constantly active. The regulation mandates that the lights should be switched off but must be turned on when an aircraft, such as a helicopter, is approaching. To meet this requirement, wind farms needed a system that could accurately detect incoming air traffic and control the lights based on real-time conditions.
To implement this solution, INVOLI partnered with a German company specializing in command and control systems for such lights. INVOLI provided air traffic awareness through its advanced receivers, which detect nearby aircraft. This collaboration resulted in the installation of several receivers on wind turbines throughout Germany.
“Today, we have something like 400 receivers active, installed, over German territory at 150 metres above ground,” explains Manu Lubrano. “These receivers provide perfect traffic awareness down to ground level, complying with wind turbine regulations and aligning with the needs of the drone industry. Accordingly, INVOLI is looking for companies in the drone industry that want to connect to this data and use it for their operations.”
Several operators in Germany have already begun integrating this data into their systems, paving the way for safer and more efficient drone missions.
Lessons from INVOLI’s wind turbine project: Business-driven infrastructure
The wind turbine project by INVOLI began with a clear business need: Wind turbines required air traffic detection systems to comply with new German regulations on visual pollution. Initially, drone operators in Germany were not utilizing INVOLI’s systems on a national scale. However, once the infrastructure was built for the wind turbines, demand from local drone operators followed.
This project highlighted a crucial lesson – successful infrastructure deployment starts with a well-defined business case.
“In Italy, we have an expression, 'the cathedral in the desert.' You don't want to build a cathedral where nobody’s going to go. Whenever we talk about infrastructure, the business should come before and ask for the infrastructure and then you deploy it,” says Manu Lubrano.
By addressing the specific needs of the wind turbine industry, INVOLI was able to expand its reach and create broader opportunities, including for drone operations. As Manu Lubrano explains, the key takeaway from this experience, particularly in the drone industry, is that infrastructure development must be driven by clear business needs in order to succeed.
Electronic Conspicuity and U-Space: Ensuring safe skies with INVOLI
INVOLI's system is well-positioned to play a critical role in U-Space and electronic conspicuity efforts. The infrastructure deployed in Germany is already equipped to detect air traffic using ADS-B, a key component for safe integration of drones in shared airspace. In addition to ADS-B, INVOLI's receivers are capable of FLARM detection, and the hardware is prepared for future standards like ADS-L, which can be implemented through a simple firmware upgrade. This forward-thinking design ensures that INVOLI can stay ahead of evolving air traffic safety requirements.
Moreover, INVOLI’s system supports multilateration technology, which is crucial for tracking older aircraft with Mode S and Mode A/C transponders that do not provide GPS positions. By receiving signals from multiple receivers, INVOLI can accurately calculate the position of these aircraft, enhancing safety in areas where traditional GPS data might be unreliable or compromised. This capability has proven especially valuable, as seen in Romania, where INVOLI detected GPS spoofing. Through multilateration, the system was able to discard erroneous GPS data and provide accurate aircraft positions, highlighting INVOLI's contribution to safe and reliable air traffic management.
Multilateration: INVOLI’s solution for accurate air traffic detection
For Manu Lubrano, INVOLI’s multilateration technology represents a significant breakthrough in air traffic detection. Unlike traditional systems that rely solely on ADS-B coverage, INVOLI’s solution can be deployed almost anywhere, addressing gaps in existing ANSP coverage.
“Today, we are realising that ANSP, they have a very nice coverage in certain limited areas, but this coverage needs to be supplemented with other data,” notes Manu Lubrano.
ANSP systems offer strong coverage in certain areas, but multilateration provides the opportunity to expand this coverage nationwide, making air traffic detection more comprehensive and reliable.
One of the key advantages of INVOLI’s system is its ability to detect aircraft using older transponders, such as Modes S, A, and C. Through multilateration, INVOLI calculates the precise position of aircraft by triangulating signals from multiple receivers. This approach not only enhances coverage but also offers a cost-effective solution compared to more expensive alternatives. In addition, multilateration is a powerful tool against GPS and ADS-B spoofing, as it can accurately reconstruct an aircraft's true trajectory, ensuring the integrity of the data.
INVOLI’s solution is both reliable and affordable, making it a valuable asset for improving air traffic management across various regions. Its flexibility and cost-effectiveness allow for a customisable network of receivers, ensuring comprehensive air traffic detection that complements existing systems while preparing for future airspace regulations.
Innovation showdown: Europe vs. U.S. in the race for U-Space
Manu Lubrano's key insight from Amsterdam Drone Week highlights the growing competition between the U.S. and Europe in the race to lead U-Space development. Europe is striving to be the first to fully implement U-Space, a framework for integrating unmanned aircraft into the same airspace as manned aviation. Meanwhile, the U.S. has already achieved this to some extent, with cities like Dallas operating advanced unmanned air traffic management systems. This competition between regions is not only driving technological advancement but also pushing the evolution of regulatory frameworks essential for unmanned aviation.
In this landscape, Europe is taking an ambitious approach to fully integrate manned and unmanned aviation systems, and INVOLI is poised to play a key role in supporting U-Space deployment. By learning from the practical models established in the U.S., such as Dallas, Europe can refine its strategies to create a more seamless and effective airspace. Manu Lubrano explains that INVOLI aims to stay at the forefront of this global race by adapting its technology to serve both the U.S. and European markets, ensuring its solutions meet the needs of evolving regulations on both sides of the Atlantic. This dynamic competition is fueling progress in the industry, with the potential for widespread U-Space and unmanned air traffic management across multiple cities in both regions.
Why Switzerland is the ideal base for INVOLI’s air traffic solutions
For the past seven years, since the company’s creation, INVOLI has been headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, where all its air traffic receivers are manufactured. Switzerland’s rapid advancements in aviation technology provide INVOLI with a competitive advantage, allowing the company to stay at the forefront of the evolving drone industry. The country’s proactive regulatory environment, driven by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), enables INVOLI to anticipate and meet global standards more quickly than competitors.
INVOLI takes pride in its Swiss manufacturing, known for precision and high-quality products, which strengthens its reputation in the international market. The vibrant ecosystem in Switzerland, featuring leading drone companies like SenseFly, AgEagle, Flyability, and many more, further supports INVOLI's innovation. This interaction with local aviation authorities and cutting-edge companies fosters a dynamic environment conducive to technological progress. Switzerland’s unique advantages have helped INVOLI lead the way in developing air traffic detection solutions crucial for the safe integration of drones into global airspace.
Ultimately, Manu Lubrano’s insights from Amsterdam Drone Week 2024 highlight INVOLI’s pivotal role in advancing air traffic detection and drone integration technologies. From addressing the critical need for unified airspace awareness to revolutionising multilateration techniques for accurate aircraft positioning, INVOLI is setting new standards for both manned and unmanned aviation.
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