Singapore-based Heron Technology, a digital aviation and cybersecurity solutions provider, has formed a new business unit, Heron AirBridge, to drive the commercialisation of its proprietary Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) solution, AirBridge. The platform will serve the gap in the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market and offer drone mission and UTM platform services, vertiport digital infrastructure, and complex drone-enabled services.
Mr Ryan Lee, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, remarked, “Given the enormous potential of AAM to address the growing challenges of population growth, urbanisation and sustainable development in the region, there is a critical need for a digital platform that can support the introduction of more unmanned aerial operations here. We must move ahead in tandem with continued collaboration between stakeholders to develop the systems required.”
In a December 2022 report published by McKinsey, AAM software development was identified as a key missing piece of the industry, with a predicted spend of up to 30% of the industry’s total value by 2030. The same report estimates that more than 50 functions need to be performed by AAM digital platforms, all of which need to be tailored for differing aircraft, evolving business models, geographies and regulatory frameworks.
To serve the gap in the AAM market, Heron AirBridge’s businesses comprises the AirBridge drone mission and UTM platform, as well as a full suite of technological support services for UTM integration and operations, vertiport digital infrastructure services and complex drone-enabled services. The platform’s features will be continually expanded to meet the evolving needs of the AAM and drone services industries, with customisation based on customer requirements as well the capability to integrate third party applications for an all-in-one ready-to-deploy platform.
Heron AirBridge has received support from the Singapore Government through the Startup SG Tech grant which provides startups with early-stage funding to fast-track commercialisation of their propriety technology solutions. It is working closely with local authorities and regulatory bodies in Singapore to develop the technologies and regulatory frameworks necessary for safe and effective AAM deployment.
To raise the standards for global AAM technology solutions, Heron AirBridge has committed to gaining certification by EASA to provide U-Space2 services in Europe, after the U-Space regulation framework comes into force in January 2023.
Beyond the aviation sector, Heron AirBridge is also working with port authorities and shipping industry stakeholders in Southeast Asia to apply the AirBridge platform’s digital infrastructure technologies to strengthen and scale maritime drone operations. The company is also working closely with public and private sector organisations to synchronise AAM and aviation regulatory developments to ensure the safe, secure, and seamless integration of these planned flights with traditional aircraft and vessel routes.
Heron Technology was established in 2021 after a management buyout of Nova Systems Asia, which played a key role in the development and testing of Singapore’s first UTM system in 2021.
