The Russian Research Center Aeroscript is trialing a service aimed at preventing collisions between drones and manned aircraft. Deputy General Director Andrey Yablokov discussed the project in a conversation with RIA News, outlining current progress and future ambitions.
The team is testing a system that detects potential midair drone conflicts and avoids them. This phase involves data exchange through a digital platform called Nebosvod, which maps drone trajectories and shares this information with flight control centers responsible for manned aviation. The goal is to create a reliable flow of data that keeps pilots informed about nearby drone activity while maintaining safe separation in busy airspaces.
According to Yablokov, the Firmament platform gathers real-time drone traffic data and then facilitates a data exchange that enables air operators to see which drones are operating within a given area. Operators and pilots can use this information to plan flights more effectively and adjust routes based on weather and airspace conditions.
In related research, the Russian firm Neurobotics has developed a prototype unmanned aerial vehicle controlled by thought power, illustrating the breadth of innovation in the sector.
Earlier reports mentioned concerns about Tilrotor, a drone project by Almaz-Antey named Nastasya, which is capable of transmitting signals over distances up to 100 kilometers. The ongoing work at Aeroscript and its collaborators underscores a broader push toward smarter, more interoperable drone traffic management that can scale to national and international skies.
These efforts align with emerging aviation safety objectives that seek to integrate unmanned systems into existing airspace without compromising safety or efficiency. Markers of progress include cross-industry data sharing, standardized communication protocols, and pilot-friendly interfaces that translate complex telemetry into actionable flight decisions. The collaboration between drone operators, air traffic authorities, and technology developers aims to reduce risk while expanding the practical use of drones for delivery, inspection, and emergency response scenarios.
Analysts note that the success of such systems depends on robust data governance, secure networks, and low-latency information exchange. As this field evolves, regulators in North America and beyond are closely watching results from pilots like Nebosvod and Firmament to inform policy and standards that support safe growth of aerial operations.
Ultimately, the work at Aeroscript shows how real-time visibility of drone movements can transform airspace management. The vision is clear: a sky where manned and unmanned systems coexist with enhanced situational awareness, reducing the possibility of near-miss events and enabling more predictable flight planning.
Note: All statements reflect the perspectives shared by the project participants and are cited to indicated sources from the involved organizations. [Source attribution: Russian Research Center Aeroscript; RIA News; Neurobotics; Almaz-Antey]