Start of the test phase of The Edge Company's BCMS system at UrbanV's Test Vertiport UV-0

A comprehensive system designed to mitigate bird strikes and ensure air taxi safety during all phases of flight. Fiumicino, 04 April 2024 - The BCMS (Bird Concentration Monitoring System), designed to combat bird strikes at airports, was installed at the Test Vertiport UV-0 in Fiumicino last December. This installation follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UrbanV and The Edge Company, an Italian deep tech company specialising in Artificial Intelligence (AI), neural networks, and deep learning. Their collaboration aims to provide cutting-edge technological solutions and services on a global scale. The system, currently undergoing testing at Italy's first test vertiport, has started to capture images to map the local wildlife and address potential obstacles that may arise during air taxis' flight phases. This initiative will enable UrbanV to monitor in real time any risks associated with bird strikes and uncooperative obstacles. The monitoring process is automated and environmentally friendly, facilitated by Artificial Intelligence. Video data captured by cameras is seamlessly processed by AI networks, automatically aggregating a vast amount of verifiable data. UrbanV's Test Vertiport UV-0 benefits from its strategic location within a designated “regulatory sandbox”, an experimental zone carefully selected and approved by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC). This unique set-up allows the testing of complex interfaces between controlled airspace, similar to that of an international civil airport and the operational airspace essential for Urban Air Services (UAS). Thanks to this sandbox, UrbanV, together with Aeroporti di Roma, aims to support the national task force for the “Implementation Plan of the Italian AAM Roadmap”. In this context, the technology developed by the Italian SME in Rimini will be tested alongside a range of other beneficial technologies in a secure environment and in accordance with the principles of the CAA Regulatory Sandbox. "At UrbanV, our mission is to improve people's lives by providing a fast, efficient, safe and environmentally friendly alternative for transporting people and goods over short distances by air," said Carlo Tursi, CEO of UrbanV. "Our vision is to become a prominent global operator of vertiport networks, starting with Italy and France, where we are working with our founding partners to establish the first AAM routes on a global scale. We are thrilled to join forces with The Edge Company, whose environmentally friendly BCMS technology solution promises to elevate safety standards at our vertiports. Together, we want to pioneer a groundbreaking and safe urban travel experience that prioritises not only infrastructure protection, but also the safety and satisfaction of our passengers.” “The Edge Company,” explained Fabio Masci, CEO of the Italian SME, “has developed an automated bird monitoring system based on its extensive experience in the aerospace sector, combining cutting-edge technologies such as AI with natural sciences, revolutionising the approach to mitigating bird strikes. Following a period of acceleration in France in 2018, where Airbus engaged us in anticipation of the forthcoming launch of new urban mobility initiatives, we adapted our BCMS system to cater to this emerging market, turning it into a NON-COOPERATIVE obstacle detection.” In the realm of Urban Air Mobility (UAM), any unexpected obstacle, whether it's a drone flying or a child playing, presents a safety risk that requires swift detection and reporting. “With our system, which has no electromagnetic emissions and can be safely installed even in residential areas, we ensure constant situational awareness. This added layer of safety benefits everyone: passengers and citizens alike,” concludes Fabio Masci.