At the recent ko:mon congress in Bremen, one topic increasingly took center stage: the integration of drones and artificial intelligence (AI) into control center systems. Innovative concepts such as those from U-ROB impressively demonstrate how drones can be intelligently integrated into existing operations control platforms. This opens up new possibilities for efficient and safe use in areas such as disaster control, traffic control, and infrastructure monitoring.
Accellence Technologies is actively involved in research and development in this context. Together with partners such as the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (THD) and VfS Forum für Sicherheit GmbH, the company is part of the Fraunhofer IOSB’s SiUSpace project. The aim of this project is to enable the safe operation of drones in what is known as U-Space – a defined airspace in which drones can be operated autonomously, in a coordinated and safe manner. The work on SiUSpace encompasses both technological innovations and the development of safety-related standards and processes.
The importance of drones and AI for control centers
The integration of drones into control center systems promises a significant improvement in situation assessment and decision-making. Drones can deliver high-resolution images, video feeds, or sensor data in real time, which are fed directly into control center systems. With the help of AI, this data can be automatically analyzed and prioritized to inform emergency services more quickly and in a more targeted manner. This is particularly relevant for scenarios such as forest firefighting, rescue operations, or assessing the situation in major disaster situations.
Security aspects in smart cities
The congress also made it clear that security in networked cities (smart cities) is increasingly being shaped by new technologies such as drones, AI, and IoT. In his presentation, Boris Bärmichl, CEO of TechnologieScout, pointed out the security risks associated with increasing networking. This underscores the need to always combine technological innovations with robust security and data protection concepts.
Perspectives through the SiUSpace project
The SiUSpace research project offers a groundbreaking platform for testing and standardizing secure drone systems in urban and critical environments. In the long term, the results could not only make the operation of drones in urban areas safer, but also lay the foundation for a uniform European drone infrastructure.
The ko:mon congress showed that drones and artificial intelligence are no longer technologies of the future, but are increasingly becoming an integral part of modern control centers. Projects such as SiUSpace underscore the importance of close cooperation between research institutions, technology providers, and security authorities. For the cities and regions of tomorrow, this means greater efficiency, faster coordination of operations, and increased security—all while complying with the highest technical and regulatory standards.
