Advanced Electrical Rotorcraft Operating Low-noise In Urban Scenarios – Noise Reduction and Trajectory Optimisation for Urban Air Mobility (Completed

Project coordination

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Challenges in air rescue missions and urban air mobility (UAM)

Air rescue missions such as transporting organs, medication or blood supplies often require precise approaches to hospital landing sites, which are frequently located in urban, noise-sensitive areas. To relieve the burden on cost-intensive rescue helicopters, electrically powered uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) could be used in the future. However, due to their design, these have distinct noise signatures than conventional helicopters.

Aerolius objectives: sound level measurements and trajectory optimisation

The Aerolius project aims to minimise noise emissions from UAS in urban areas. This is to be achieved through a combination of high-precision sound level measurements and the development of noise-optimised flight trajectories. Using special 3D trajectories, the ground-level noise perception can be kept as low as possible in order to minimise negative impacts on people and animals.

Important project objectives:

• Determination of the current state of noise impact from representative passenger drones: Investigation of the effects on the population, particularly in cities and settlements.
• Precise sound level measurements: Carrying out measurements with different UAV models (DJI Mini 2, DJI Mavic 2 Pro, DJI Matrice M300 RTK, eHang 216).
• Trajectory optimisation for noise reduction: Development of approach procedures to minimise noise exposure.
• Integration of the results into operational concepts: Creation of a basis for the safe, low-noise and efficient use of drones in urban areas.

AIRlabs Austria: Operational measurements and expertise for operating concepts

AIRlabs Austria played a leading role in the Aerolius project by organising and carrying out the sound level measurements. In addition, AIRlabs provided expert support in developing practical operating concepts and in the consideration of legal and operational framework requirements for the use of UAS in urban areas. AIRlabs thus made an important contribution to the real-world applicability.

Research results and future applications in the field of urban air mobility

The data obtained in the Aerolius project is already being utilised in the UASNoiseCheck funding project. In addition, the results form a valuable basis for future research projects in the field of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), particularly regarding U-Space implementation and airspace analyses.

The use of MATLAB to simulate and evaluate the data enables precise analyses that contribute to the further development of noise-optimised trajectories and operating concepts. The aim is to create innovative solutions for the integration of UAS in urban areas that are both safe and environmentally friendly.

Outlook: Sustainable drone use in urban areas

The Aerolius project aims to gain a better understanding of noise propagation and perception of UAS. The development of noise-optimised trajectories should enable the safe and sustainable use of drones in urban air mobility (UAM) in the long term.

Aerolius is a research project within the FFG TAKE OFF programme and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI).

For more information, please visit:

FFG Take Off – Aerolius

Note: The header image was created using AI and is for illustrative purposes only.