CONCERTO (Collaborative Operation Management of Next Coming Air Mobility for Ecosystem Revolution)

There is a growing momentum towards realizing the operation of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and urban air mobility (UAM).　In Japan, UAS flights beyond visual line of sight over inhabited areas ("level 4” flight in JCAB definition) have commenced. Additionally, the development of UAM vehicles and regulatory preparations are underway, targeting demonstration flights at the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025.

JAXA is working to develop an integrated traffic management system for UAS, UAM, and existing aircraft with its research and development project, named CONCERTO*, planned for approximately five years from 2022 to 2026. CONCERTO is undertaken as part of the "Realization of Advanced Air Mobility (ReAMo) project" by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). JAXA conducts this project in close collaboration with domestic private companies and relevant government ministries. The developed technologies will be standardized internationally and transferred to domestic private companies, contributing to the advancement of AAM and the promotion of domestic industries.

*CONCERTO: Collaborative Operation Management of Next Coming Air Mobility for Ecosystem Revolution.

Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM)

The "Public-Private Committee for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)", established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), has formulated a "Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM)", outlining a phased approach to gradually mature the operation of AAM throughout the 2030s. In Phase 1, including the Osaka-Kansai Expo, the focus is primarily on low-density operations in the existing airspace using existing flight rules. In phase 2, starting in the late 2020s, medium-to-high density operations will begin, with the possible introduction of remotely piloted passenger transport. Phase 3 from the 2030s onward further scale up to even higher-density operations, anticipating the expansion of automated and autonomous operations.

CONCERTO's Main Research and Development Areas

JAXA’s CONCERTO project aims to develop the architecture design of an integrated traffic management system for UAS, UAM, and existing aircraft, as well as the development of core technologies, with an eye towards the phase 2/3 of the ConOps for AAM. JAXA is working on three R&D themes as follows.

1) Architecture design of the integrated traffic management system

Together with stakeholders (system manufacturers, aircraft operators, relevant ministries, etc.), JAXA develops the architecture design and establishes system performance requirements of the integrated traffic management system using air traffic simulators.

2) Development of core technologies for the integrated traffic management system

JAXA develops core technologies for the integrated traffic management system, including a) cooperative conflict management (collision avoidance) technology, b) information sharing and coordination technology with existing aircraft, c) safe operation technology for drones. Additionally, JAXA works on d) autonomous flight technology for UAM, and e) drone flight data collection and analysis technology.

3) Verification and evaluation of the integrated traffic management system

JAXA develops a prototype of the integrated traffic management system by collaborating with domestic industries. To evaluate the developed prototype’s performance, JAXA conducts flight verification using JAXA's research helicopters and air traffic simulators. The flight-proven results will accelerate international standardization and technology transfer of the research outcomes.

※Part of the outcome of this research is based on the results obtained from the commissioned work by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under the Realization of Advanced Air Mobility (ReAMo) project.

Dec 6, 2023