NASA has introduced a cloud-based flight management system for drones—UTM (Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management)—that automatically coordinates routes online, reducing the risk of collisions and making large-scale flights easier. Unlike manual control, the system itself identifies potential conflicts even before takeoff, working like a navigator for unmanned aircraft.
In the United States, several companies have been granted permission to use UTM, confirming its safety. Now drones can fly beyond visual line of sight, including over cities, which opens new opportunities for delivery and logistics.
The Federal Aviation Administration is preparing regulatory relaxations for such operators, because the system reduces the burden on air-traffic controllers. UTM is the first automated approach to drone traffic management in low-altitude airspace, opening the way to their full integration into urban environments.
