Revolutionizing Drone Software
By Manasvi Dhawad· BeRAM Pvt. Ltd.
Introduction
Welcome to the official blog of BeRAM Pvt. Ltd. I’m Manasvi Dhawad, an Electronics and Computer Science Engineering student at RCOEM, Nagpur. BeRAM is dedicated to developing innovative, practical, and cost-effective solutions that address real-world challenges. During my internship, I have contributed through research on Urban Traffic Management Systems (UTMS), drafting an SRS document, analyzing dashboards and websites, and creating UI/UX designs using Figma to align with project goals.
Objective
To build a robust, intelligent airspace infrastructure that integrates unmanned aerial vehicles seamlessly, ensuring operational safety, regulatory compliance, and readiness for future aerial innovations such as drone deliveries and air taxis
Why UTMS is needed?
- Rapid rise in drone usage across industries
- Prevents mid-air collisions and airspace violations
- Traditional ATC can't manage drone-scale traffic
- UTMS enables safe, real-time drone coordination
- Enables automated, scalable flight planning
- Ensures regulatory compliance (DGCA, FAA, etc.)
- Supports future applications like drone delivery and air taxis
- Attracts investment and public-private partnerships.
Other UTMS Innovation and their technical bases
1. Altitude Angel (UK)
Year: 2019
Funding Source: UK Government – Future Flight Challenge (£12M) Software Developed:
- AI-powered Unmanned Traffic Management platform called Arrow
- Real-time drone flight monitoring and conflict resolution
- Complies with EU U-Space standards for safe drone operations
- Cloud-based APIs enabling drone operators and authorities to coordinate
2. ANRA Technologies (India/USA)
Year: 2018–2021
Funding Source: NASA, FAA, DGCA India, SESAR-JU (EU) Software Developed:
- Modular UTM as a Service platform
- Blockchain for secure audit trails and compliance
- Integrated with Digital Sky (India) and FAA’s LAANC system
- Real-time telemetry and federated airspace management
3. Terra Drone (Japan)
Year: 2019
Funding Source: METI Japan, Private Investors Software Developed:
- •GIS-based obstacle detection and avoidance
- •AI-driven routing for urban drone delivery fleets
- •Centralized urban UTM platform for traffic optimization
Key Technical Components of a UTMS
- Flight Authorization and Geo-fencing : UTMS platforms provide real-time flight authorization, which is crucial for reducing bottlenecks from manual approvals. They use geo-fencing to define and enforce virtual boundaries for where drones can and cannot fly, ensuring compliance with no-fly zones.
- Real-time Monitoring and Data Logs: The system aggregates telemetry data from drones to create a 3D operational picture of the airspace. This data includes flight paths, altitudes, and control inputs. These records act as a "digital black box" for post-incident investigations, operator accountability, and automated reporting to regulators.
- Conflict Resolution and Deconfliction: Using AI and real-time data, a UTMS can detect potential mid-air conflicts between drones and resolve them automatically. This is essential for managing the high density of drone traffic, especially in urban areas.
- Integration with Existing Systems: A key feature of advanced UTMS is their ability to integrate with manned aviation systems (ATM). This allows for dynamic airspace segregation and shared situational awareness, giving priority to emergency vehicles or military flights when needed.
The Growing UTMS Market and Economic Impact
- Market Size: The global UTMS market was valued at USD 1.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 6.2 billion by 2034, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.4%.
- Software Dominance: The software component is a major driver of this growth, accounting for over 48% of the market share in 2024. The software is essential for real-time data processing, route optimization, and ensuring compliance.
- Economic Enabler: The timely implementation of UTMS is seen as a prerequisite to "unleash the drone economy," as it facilitates beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, which are crucial for services like drone deliveries.
Conclusion
Bhandarkar Excellence of Research and Management Pvt. Ltd. (BeRAM) being a private company focusing on advanced drone technology and innovative traffic management solutions. Building a UTMS aligns with BeRAM’s mission to lead in deep-tech research and contribute to safer, more efficient airspace management. Developing UTMS will position BeRAM as a pioneer in India’s growing drone ecosystem, attract government and private funding, and open new business opportunities in drone logistics and AI-driven solutions.