Advancing Air Mobility: The Skyway and MatrixSpace Partnership

This editorial post was originally published by BATTLESPACE February 27, 2025.

We recently announced a joint venture with Skyway to advance the integration of intelligent air traffic management and uncrewed aircraft detection systems. Skyway develops vertiports and provides advanced solutions for vertiport traffic management and unmanned airspace planning. MatrixSpace provides outdoor sensor solutions leveraging radar technology for use in defense and commercial applications, which addresses this need. The companies’ partnership is intended to support several aspects of enabling practical advanced air mobility (AAM) initiatives in the United States.

About Advanced Air Mobility
Advanced Air Mobility refers to the use of innovative autonomous aircraft, such as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, to transport people and goods in urban and regional environments.

AAM represents a transformative approach to air transportation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create efficient, sustainable, and accessible air travel options. The goal is to alleviate urban congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and provide faster, more flexible transportation alternatives. By integrating AAM into existing urban landscapes, cities can enhance their transportation networks and improve overall mobility.

Skyway, a leader in the development of AAM, is working with multiple partners to implement projects in the United States. For example, in collaboration with Bluenest by Globalvia and UrbanLink, Skyway is developing an AAM vertiport network across South and Central Florida. This initiative aims to transform regional travel by offering fast, sustainable mobility options and fostering economic growth. Major hubs will be established in Miami and Orlando, with commercial operations expected to begin in late 2026.

The network will feature state-of-the-art vertiports designed for diverse eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft, ensuring rapid and sustainable connections between key destinations. Dedicated routes will link major hubs and popular regional locations, enhancing mobility and accessibility for residents and visitors.

Unique Aspects of AAM
Unlike current methods of air transportation, AAM differs significantly from traditional general aviation (light aircraft) and helicopter air transportation in several ways. Not only are the vehicles themselves radically different, but so is their intended operation, as well as the infrastructure to integrate them into traveler communities and freight/delivery nodes.

1. Reliance on Automation and Autonomy: Unlike traditional aviation, AAM relies heavily on automated and autonomous systems rather than human pilots and airport operators. This shift towards autonomy is driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, enabling aircraft to navigate complex urban environments safely and efficiently.

2. Low Airspace Usage: AAM operations are likely to focus on defined drone corridors, minimizing their impact on traditional airspace. These corridors are designed to optimize flight paths, reduce congestion, and ensure safe separation from other air traffic. By utilizing low-altitude airspace, AAM can operate independently of conventional aviation routes.

3. Urban Vertiport Placement: AAM vertiports are small and closely integrated within urban communities, similar to train stations, due to the lack of space for large airports in congested cities. These vertiports are strategically located to provide convenient access to urban centers, reducing the need for extensive ground transportation. The integration of vertiports into existing infrastructure, such as rooftops and parking structures, further enhances their accessibility.

4. Repurposing Rural Airports: Many rural regional airports, which lack traditional air traffic control infrastructure, are being repurposed to support AAM operations. These airports offer ample space and minimal air traffic, making them ideal for AAM deployment. By upgrading these facilities with modern technology, they can serve as hubs for regional air mobility.

5. Integration of Third-Party Infrastructure: AAM relies on third-party infrastructure and services for air navigation and traffic management, as opposed to direct FAA control, as outlined in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. This decentralized approach allows for greater flexibility and innovation in managing airspace and ensuring safe operations.

This presents enormous challenges in terms of integrating into NAS (National Air Space), to ensure safe, large-scale operations in particularly crowded aviation areas. The skies are becoming increasingly busy from general aviation aircraft, helicopters, nearby major airports, drones used for infrastructure inspections and drone-as-first-responder programs. AAM vehicles, typically flying below 2,000 feet, must integrate safely into this dynamic environment.

Implications for AMM Situational Awareness
The safe operation of AAM vehicles is a paramount consideration for operators. But today’s air traffic control systems and pilot flight rules are not designed to manage the airspace and autonomous/remote piloting systems that these vehicles will ultimately use. AAM requires unique solutions for situational awareness, distinct from traditional air traffic management systems:

1. Multiple Layers of Perception: Autonomous systems need various data feeds from sensors to operate safely, especially at low altitudes. These sensors include radar, optical, infrared, and sonic technologies, providing comprehensive coverage of the airspace. By combining data from multiple sources, AAM systems can detect and avoid obstacles, ensuring safe navigation.

2. Digital Sensor Modalities: AAM vertiports require a range of digital sensors, including radar, optical, infrared, and sonic, to ensure safe operations. These sensors must be capable of real-time data processing and integration with autonomous systems. The use of digital sensors enhances the accuracy and reliability of situational awareness, enabling precise detection and classification of objects.

3. Edge-Based Processing: Real-time decision-making in autonomous systems necessitates edge-based processing to handle potential cloud disruptions. By processing data locally, AAM systems can maintain operational continuity even in the event of network failures. This approach ensures that critical decisions are made quickly and reliably, enhancing overall safety.

4. Close Community Integration: Vertiports need to monitor airborne, vehicular, and human activities closely, requiring advanced AI for object classification and clutter removal. This integration ensures that vertiports operate harmoniously within urban environments, minimizing disruptions and enhancing safety. AI-powered systems can differentiate between various objects, reducing false alarms and improving situational awareness.

5. Scalable Low-Cost Sensors: Low-cost, networkable sensors with minimal infrastructure dependence are crucial for monitoring drone corridors. These sensors must be easy to install, maintain, and operate remotely, ensuring scalability and cost-effectiveness. By deploying a network of sensors, AAM operators can achieve comprehensive coverage of the airspace, enhancing safety and efficiency.

The Skyway and MatrixSpace Partnership
The partnership between Skyway and MatrixSpace addresses the unique challenges of AAM situational awareness and offers several benefits. Real-time air traffic monitoring will reduce the risk of collisions and ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks. Enhanced radar capabilities will improve drone detection and mitigate unmanned aircraft threats. Seamless coordination between vertiports and airborne assets will optimize flight paths and schedules, making this collaboration a cornerstone of the next phase of aerospace innovation.

1. Data Access and Integration: Skyway gains access to a close-airspace sensor platform that is natively digital, with embedded AI and open APIs. This platform enhances Skyway's ability to manage vertiports and corridors with precision, ensuring safe and efficient operations. The integration of MatrixSpace's radar systems provides real-time detection, classification, and visualization of airborne and ground-based objects, empowering Skyway Command Centers to effectively manage the safe navigation of air taxis, as well as the secure operation of intelligent vertiports.

2. Precision Awareness: MatrixSpace provides a scalable solution aligned with vertiport and corridor economics and community integration. Their radar systems are designed to be lightweight, portable, and easy to deploy, making them ideal for urban environments. By leveraging AI-powered sensing technology, MatrixSpace enhances situational awareness, reduces false positives, and improves overall safety.

3. Scalability: The partnership delivers precision awareness across multiple domains without heavy infrastructure dependencies. MatrixSpace's radar systems offer features like object detection, telemetry capture, and mesh network synchronization, enabling Skyway to manage vertiports with unprecedented accuracy. This capability supports Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, a cornerstone for enabling efficient eVTOL flights and drone deployments for commercial, public safety, and defense applications.

4. Regulatory Compliance: It enables validation of AAM operations and compliance with emerging regulatory standards. By working closely with the FAA and other regulators, Skyway and MatrixSpace contribute to the development of guidelines and standards for AAM. This collaborative approach ensures that their solutions meet regulatory requirements and support the safe integration of AAM into the national airspace.

The two companies intend to collaborate across multiple fronts. Skyway will receive preferential access to sensor APIs and data for integration and testing in its Operation Control Center. This access allows Skyway to optimize its operations and enhance situational awareness, ensuring safe and efficient vertiport management. The partnership also creates a pathway for seamless sensor hardware purchases for Skyway's vertiport and corridor projects. By streamlining the procurement process, Skyway can quickly deploy the necessary technology to support its AAM initiatives.

Conclusion
Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is distinct from traditional aviation and helicopter transportation, necessitating novel approaches to airspace management and vertiport operation. The Skyway and MatrixSpace partnership aims to advance AAM development safely, ultimately leading to societal benefits such as traffic decongestion and decarbonization. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions, this partnership sets a new standard for the future of air mobility, ensuring that AAM can be integrated seamlessly into urban and regional environments.

Learn more about how MatrixSpace is helping to facilitate smart cities and airspace safety.

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