Project DATUM

What is the project

Project DATUM (Data for Aviation Traffic and Unmanned Management) was an integration initiative designed to support the flight trials of the Dronamics Black Swan—a large, long-range cargo drone capable of carrying 350kg over 2,500km. Neuron provided the API connectivity, Web UX, and sensor planning required to ensure the aircraft could be tracked continuously over its long-range profiles.

Partners

Dronamics, UFO (Small Flying Objects) funding.

Outcome

Completion of test flights and data capture. Produced a "Final DATUM Report" documenting the integration steps required to move from Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) to BVLOS operations for large fixed-wing drones.1

Middle-Mile Logistics: Enables same-day delivery over continental ranges.Dronamics: Provides the surveillance data needed for type certification.

Strategic & Technical Analysis

The Middle-Mile Challenge Dronamics represents a new class of aircraft: the middle-mile cargo drone. These aircraft fly at altitudes (e.g., 10,000ft) and speeds that put them directly in conflict with General Aviation and regional airliners. They cannot simply fly in a "drone lane" near the ground. Project DATUM validated that the 4DSKY network could track these high-performance assets over long distances, handing off the track between sensors as the aircraft traversed hundreds of kilometers. This "seamless handover" capability is essential for long-range BVLOS operations.