Another Banner Year for ANRA Technologies – 2023 in Review
As we enter 2024, we are excited to recount the remarkable strides ANRA Technologies made throughout 2023. Our story is one of continued progress, momentum, and growth, fueled by global expansion, groundbreaking product innovations, strategic partnerships, and active participation in international conferences. Here’s a recap of our top highlights from the past year:
- Product Innovations 🌐
ANRA Vertiport Management System (VMS): In November, we launched ANRA VMS, a cutting-edge software platform revolutionizing UAM operational and safety decisions. Seamlessly connecting with vertiport, VTOL aircraft, and the broader AAM ecosystem, it provides the digital infrastructure that addresses a known technology gap for enabling vertiport operations. You can read the press release and news article in Aviation International News for a complete list of features and functions.
Mission Manager X (MMX): September saw the introduction of MMX, our next-gen fleet operations and airspace management platform for uncrewed aircraft. Offering a comprehensive solution for safe and compliant drone operations, MMX integrates Mission, Fleet, Drone in a Box and UTM services on a singular platform. Get all the details in our press release or read the news article in Unmanned Airspace.
- World Firsts 🌍
ANRA and NAVOS Air Partnership: ANRA Technologies and NAVOS Air, an Instrument Flight Procedure Products and Services company, are collaborating to integrate flightpath procedures into ANRA’s Vertiport Management Service for VTOL aircraft operations. This joint undertaking combines first-of-its-kind services and technologies to accelerate safe and compliant vertiport implementation in the United States. For complete details on the project, check out the blog post here or read the article in Air Traffic Management.
Estonia U-space Center Takes Off: First announced in May of 2023 and launched in June 2023, ANRA Technologies, in partnership with the Estonian Transport Administration, the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, and the Tartu Science Park Foundation, established a U-space sandbox in Estonia to develop and deploy uncrewed aviation technologies for U-space. The facility is now operational and has successfully conducted initial test flights. Read the article published by the Republic of Estonia Transport Administration for complete details.
- R&D, Testing, Evaluations, and Demonstrations 🔍
U-ELCOME Project: Proudly supporting the European U-space implementation project, U-ELCOME, ANRA is closing the gap between innovation and real-life application, making BVLOS/VLOS UAS flights a reality in the near future to include vertiport operations.
EU SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking Projects: Active involvement in winning consortia, Projects EUREKA and SAFIR-Ready aim to streamline UAM operations and vertiports across Europe.
Building India’s Autonomous Aviation Capabilities: Playing a pivotal role in providing autonomous vehicle traffic management and airspace surveillance, ANRA contributed to India’s first systems testbed for uncrewed aerial and terrestrial vehicles. To learn more, read the ANRA blog post here or the news coverage in Inside Unmanned Systems.
ANRA FAA UAM Live Flight Tests: Participating in the FAA UAM Airspace Management Demonstration project, live uncrewed flights between San Martin and Hollister airports in California showcased the capabilities of our PSU/AAM system showcasing capabilities such as Demand Capacity Balancing (DCB) and Resource service. You can catch all the details in our blog here or in Dronelife.
ANRA Powers NASA High-Density Vertiplex Operations Center: NASA Langley Research Center’s AAM High Density Vertiplex (HDV) sub-project held a live flight test event for guests that successfully showcased scalable autonomous operations. As a NASA Langley partner, ANRA provided fusion capability for multiple surveillance sources integrated into ANRA’s UTM system, then visualized in the HDV Operations Center. ANRA also integrated its fused surveillance data stream into its UTM solution for reducing and mitigating risk for BVLOS operations. For complete details, check out the blog post here or the news coverage in Vertical Magazine.
- Top Awards 🏆
Commercial UAV Expo Pitch the Press Award: Honored with the “Pitch the Press” award at the Commercial UAV Expo, recognizing our commitment to innovation and excellence in the drone-related technology space. You can read about the award and other winners and contestants here.
UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Temporary Reserved Area (TRA) Regulatory Sandbox: ANRA is pleased to be a consortium partner for a United Kingdom (UK) based project called BLUEPRINT that has been selected to take part in a Regulatory Sandbox, which will allow us to work closely with the subject matter experts within the CAA to progress towards our objectives of successfully trialing integrated BVLOS drone operations within UK airspace. Read more here.
- Conferences, Trade Shows, Webinars, and Symposiums 🌐
In 2023, ANRA actively participated in numerous conferences and tradeshows worldwide, engaging with the global UAS community. Highlights included the Dubai Air Show, Energy Innovation Summit, EU-Asia Symposium on UAS/UAM, SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking Annual Conference, Commercial UAV Expo, Business of Automated Mobility Forum, Amsterdam Drone Week, Airspace World Geneva, ICAO Drone Enable, and GUTMA Harmonized Skies. We also launched a very popular monthly webinar series called “Huddle” that explores exciting topics in the world of autonomous aircraft, robotics, and the software and systems that enable them.
The year also saw Michael Whitaker depart his role as an ANRA board member to become the FAA Administrator and is now responsible for helping to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the largest aerospace system in the world. We wish you well and know the US airspace system is in very capable hands with you at the controls.
As we conclude this transformative year, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued partnership and support. Here’s to an even more exciting and collaborative 2024, filled with innovation and shared success.
