The doors of NLR Drone DigiCity were officially opened recently. NLR Drone DigiCity is to be a new test facility and experimentation environment, including its own workshop, runway and closed airspace above the NLR site in Marknesse.
Drones are expected to play an increasing role in and add value to society. For instance, they can be used for a wide variety of purposes, such as research, inspection and transport. However, deployment of the technology in urban areas and public acceptance of drones is an area of concern. The NLR Drone DigiCity experimental environment should help get applications for this off the ground.
Part of NLR Drone Centre
NLR Drone DigiCity is part of the NLR Drone Centre in the Flevoland town of Markenesse. NLR is an independent research institute for (unmanned) aviation. The institute previously provided theory training at the NLR Drone Centre since 2013 and has been training drone pilots since 2015. As there are now enough other trainers, NLR has stopped providing flight training. NLR Drone Centre is also authorised to certify drones.
The new test facility includes a more than 320-metre paved landing strip for drones. The airspace above the NLR site in Markenesse has also been closed. External parties can experiment at the site in a configurable simulated urban environment and test both their drones and related systems.
This urban environment consists of 24 shipping containers, which can be placed in different configurations. NLR is currently developing a measurement system with high-tech digital infrastructure, sensors and measurement equipment in the city and on drones flying around to monitor the environment.
Airflow and noise
The centre's focus includes airflow around buildings, which can be strong and changeable. This poses a major challenge when flying in an urban environment. NLR previously conducted tests in a wind tunnel with a scale model of DigiCity, mapping the speed and direction of airflow at every 25cm over the height of almost 8 metres.
Another focus point is noise pollution. To map noise production, a technical measurement and analysis room is available in the NLR Drone Centre.
Office workplaces, workshop and experts available
NLR Drone DigiCity also has office workplaces for external parties to use. A workshop is also available. Together, they vomren a co-creation workspace, where parties work together. This also brings them into contact with other entrepreneurs and NLR experts in drone technology, laws and regulations and Innovative Air Mobility (IAM).
"With the opening, NLR offers all kinds of parties working with drones, such as start-ups, SMEs and government institutions, the opportunity to develop their own concepts and test their operation in practice," says Timo Nijman, project leader of the new facility. "This allows customers to determine in a shielded environment under set weather and other relevant conditions what the impact of the city is on their drone as well as what impact the drone has on the city."
Ruud van Raak of Kansen voor West: "NLR Drone DigiCity has a lot to offer Dutch industry. So besides an isolated test environment with workshop, entrepreneurs can also meet here. In that sense, an ideal place to join forces. An important reason for the 'Opportunities for West' programme to therefore support the project financially, helping to strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs in particular." Opportunities for West promotes the competitiveness of the western Netherlands.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: Thomas Ehrhardt via Pixabay
