Interview with Jakub Karas, director of UAS and co-founder of UpVision, president of the Czech Republic’s Unmanned Aerial Industry Alliance
Jakub Karas is a man driven by a relentless passion for innovation and a profound love for aviation. As the co-founder and director of UAS at UpVision, and the president of the Czech Republic’s Unmanned Aerial Industry Alliance, his journey is marked by groundbreaking projects and visionary ideas that have positioned UpVision as a leader in the drone industry. His deep commitment to advancing technology and improving airspace management through international collaborations with entities like the European Space Agency (ESA),European Union Space Program Agency (EUSPA) or Single European Sky ATM Research Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) showcases his dedication and enthusiasm. Under his leadership, UpVision is not only meeting but exceeding legislative and technological standards, pioneering the use of GNSS signal authentication, blockchain for data security, and 5G networks for tactical control. In this conversation, Karas shares his insights, current projects, and the inspiring future he envisions for the drone world.
Jakub Karas
Kateřina Urbanová: What are the current projects UpVision is working on, and what new technologies and methods are you using?
Jakub Karas: Currently, we are engaged in several innovative projects in collaboration with our partners. One of the most significant is the MEDuSA AAV project for the European Space Agency (ESA), focusing on innovative drone detection within a specific perimeter using GNSS sensors and satellite communication. This project leverages advanced algorithms to detect phase anomalies caused by drone passages, applying these algorithms across distributed GNSS sensors. Detection results are sent to a control center, where advanced techniques like machine learning or Kalman filters estimate the drone’s trajectory. Galileo provides stable signals and OSNMA service, which are crucial to this solution.
Another major project, in partnership with the European Union Space Program Agency (EUSPA), involves meeting new legislative requirements for drone visibility through the remote ID system. Utilizing the European Galileo system, which offers GNSS signal authentication, we verify drone positions and secure data with blockchain technology. This project is crucial for security applications or border area monitoring.
We are also exploring the use of 5G networks for the tactical control of aerial and ground robots. This system allows the coordination and security of drone and robot swarms using mobile access points, which can be part of mobile units ensuring communication over distances of several tens of kilometers. This project is currently being tested over distances of 20-30 km and can be used in current conflicts.
Furthermore, we are working long time on the UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management), a system for managing drones in airspace. From this year we also started research project on this topic in collaboration with CTU, ANS Czech Republic, and other partners, aiming to test the operational deployment of all mandatory European legislative services in a test area in Česká Lípa. Our goal is to implement and demonstrate four key services together: remote ID, traffic management, flight authorization, and geo-awareness.
Kateřina Urbanová: Can you tell us more about your collaboration with Czechoslovak Group and how it influences your projects and innovations?
Jakub Karas: Our collaboration with Czechoslovak Group (CSG) is crucial for our projects and innovations. Before becoming part of CSG, we actively cooperated with companies like Atrak and CS Soft, which are key ATM providers. This partnership allowed for deeper technology integration and sharing know-how in drone management and operations.
CSG focuses not only on ATM but also on drone detection through technologies provided by companies like Retia. Integrating radar and other systems enables us to create comprehensive and efficient solutions for drone management and detection, essential for our security and airspace monitoring projects.
An important aspect of our collaboration is involvement in research and development of new technologies. We actively communicate with experts and researchers, like Professor Přikryl (Professor Bohuslav Přikryl, Vice President for Science and Research at CSG Aerospace), developing new ideas and projects together. We are submitting various projects currently under review, allowing us to stay at the forefront of technological advancement in the drone field.
UTM
Kateřina Urbanová: What are the latest advancements in U-space and Urban Air Mobility, and how is UpVision involved?
Jakub Karas: In the U-space and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) sectors, we have seen significant progress, with UpVision actively contributing. U-space is a key European Union initiative for safely integrating drones into airspace, while UAM focuses on using drones and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles for transporting people and cargo in urban areas.
We are working on implementation of the European U-space regulation framework which is effective since January 2023, which includes four mandatory services as I mentioned above: remote ID, traffic management, flight authorization, and geo-awareness. Additionally, we are developing and testing technologies for dynamic airspace reconfiguration, essential for managing flight corridors for drones, enabling longer and more complex missions.
We also collaborate with companies like Retia to integrate radar systems for detecting unauthorized drone activities. Using Galileo’s GNSS signal authentication technology, we verify drone positions and secure data with blockchain, ensuring our systems are robust and reliable.
Moreover, we are testing and implementing 5G networks for tactical control of drones and ground robots. This technology enables fast and stable communication, crucial for coordinating and safely operating drone swarms in various scenarios, including military applications and crisis situations.
In collaboration with Honeywell, we executed the SESAR project focused on drone delivery, demonstrating a legal delivery 10 km with the Civil Aviation Authority, Air Navigation Services and Brno airport. This project showed that drone delivery services are viable and can be effectively integrated into urban environments.
We we also assess infrastructure for UAM, including flight corridors and vertiports for eVTOL vehicles. Working with cities and stakeholders, we plan and implement these elements to ensure safe and efficient transportation of people and goods in urban settings. Collaborating with CTU and other research institutions, we develop and test technologies for UAM, applying the latest scientific knowledge in practice. We conduct pilot projects and demonstrations, gaining valuable experience and feedback for further development. For example, passenger transport between Brno and Vienna is a feasible application, especially given the state of the highway.
Kateřina Urbanová: What new safety and automation technologies are you implementing in your drone systems?
Jakub Karas: At UpVision, we focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies to ensure the reliable and safe operation of drones. Our efforts concentrate on several key areas. Implementing GNSS authentication technology using the Galileo system, known as Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OS-NMA), verifies the authenticity and accuracy of GNSS signals, critical for safe drone operations in high-traffic areas and sensitive zones. To secure and authenticate data, we use blockchain technology, ensuring that data collected by drones, such as for monitoring or inspections, is immutable and reliable, particularly important for applications requiring high trust levels, like critical infrastructure inspections or tracking people and goods.
We develop systems for dynamic airspace reconfiguration, allowing flexible and efficient management of flight corridors. This technology is key for long and complex drone missions, enabling real-time adjustment of flight paths according to current needs and conditions. Integrating advanced collision detection and avoidance systems (Detect and Avoid – DAA) using a combination of sensors, radars, and cameras, allows drones to detect and avoid obstacles in real-time, significantly enhancing flight safety, especially in densely populated or challenging areas. Automating flight operations using advanced algorithms for autonomous drone control, including route planning, automatic take-offs and landings, and emergency response, reduces the risk of human error and enables more efficient and safer drone operations.
Drone medical
Kateřina Urbanová: What are the latest regulatory changes for drones in the Czech Republic, and how is UpVision responding?
Jakub Karas: The latest regulatory changes for drones in the Czech Republic reflect the European Union’s efforts to harmonize rules for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and their safe integration into airspace. These changes significantly impact drone operators and companies involved in their development and use. UpVision prepares and responds to these changes by ensuring that pilot-operated aircraft always have priority over unmanned drones. This fundamental principle guides our development and operational strategies to ensure the safety and efficiency of airspace use.
U-space service providers must be certified by national civil aviation authorities. UpVision actively collaborates with the Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant bodies to obtain necessary certifications and meet all requirements for providing these services.
To respond to new regulations, we conduct pilot projects and testing missions to verify the functionality and efficiency of new technologies and procedures under real conditions. Actively communicating with the public and professional community about regulatory changes and our responses, we organize conferences, seminars, and presentations to share our experiences and insights. This approach helps raise awareness about new regulations and gain valuable feedback from other industry participants.
Kateřina Urbanová: What are your predictions for future trends in the drone sector and their integration into various industries and public services?
Jakub Karas: We foresee several key trends shaping the future of the drone sector and their integration into various industries and public services based on our experience and current developments. There will be a significant increase in using drones for parcel and goods delivery, especially in urban areas. Pilot projects in Europe, such as in Ireland, where drones transport hundreds of deliveries daily, are already underway. This trend will continue to grow with the development of U-space and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) infrastructure, enabling safe and efficient drone operations in urban airspace.
Drones will be increasingly used for transporting medications, blood samples, and medical supplies, significantly improving healthcare accessibility, especially in remote and hard-to-reach areas. This public acceptance of drones will grow significantly in areas where people can clearly see their benefits, such as the delivery of medicines and defibrillators.
We anticipate rapid development and deployment of eVTOL vehicles for transporting people and cargo in urban areas. Companies are already testing their prototypes and planning commercial deployment in the coming years. This trend will be supported by developing infrastructure such as vertiports and flight corridors.
Advanced detection and obstacle avoidance systems will become standard for all drones, significantly increasing operational safety. These systems will use a combination of sensors, radars, and cameras for real-time detection and avoidance of obstacles. Automation and autonomous drone control will play a crucial role in increasing efficiency and reducing human errors. Algorithms for autonomous route planning, take-offs and landings, and emergency response will become increasingly sophisticated.
The European Union and other regional organizations will continue harmonizing drone regulations, facilitating their integration into airspace and enabling broader commercial use. Standardizing data formats, communication protocols, and security procedures will be crucial for international cooperation. The full deployment of U-space services will be essential for enabling safe and efficient drone operations in urban areas, providing necessary services such as drone identification, traffic management, and flight operation authorization.
Kateřina Urbanová: What key moments in your career do you consider pivotal, and how have they influenced you? What inspired you to write books about drones, and what main ideas would you like to convey to your readers?
Jakub Karas
Jakub Karas: At the start of my career, I worked in photogrammetry, creating digital terrain models and orthophotos from aerial photography. This experience intrigued me and allowed me to understand the importance of aerial data and its practical application. Working with geographic information sparked my deeper interest in aviation and aerial technologies.
In 2012, I first encountered drones, which were just beginning to penetrate the market. At Geodis, we started testing drone use for photogrammetry and mapping. This innovative technology fascinated me and opened new possibilities for streamlining and improving existing processes.
In 2015, we decided to establish the Alliance for the Unmanned Aerial Industry. The goal was to bring together companies and experts in this field, share experiences, and collaborate on developing legislation and technologies. This initiative led me to close cooperation with Czech and European authorities, which was crucial for my further activities.
Active involvement in European regulatory and expert groups, such as EASA, EUSPA and DG MOVE, has allowed me to contribute to shaping the regulatory environment for drones. Working on the European drone strategy and participating in projects like SESAR has provided me with valuable experience and an international perspective.
Early on, information about drones and their use was very limited. I wanted to share my knowledge and experiences to help people understand how they can effectively use drones in their work and personal lives. My books aim to provide readers with practical information on the construction, operation, and applications of drones.
My goal is to show that drones can significantly improve and simplify many processes in various fields. Drones have the potential to bring new possibilities and facilitate work in areas like mapping, inspections, agriculture, or delivery. I strive to highlight the importance of technological development and innovation in the drone industry and inspire readers to see drones as a tool for positive change. I hope my books help readers better understand and utilize the potential of this fascinating technology.
Interviewed by Kateřina Urbanová, EIC @ ACE
