Innovating urban flight
From prototype to a live U-Space trial over Dublin City: dockstation drones, multi-operator airspace management and a digital twin, delivered with Dublin City Council and the Irish Aviation Authority.
Dublin is building a city-scale reference for drone operations.
The main aim is to investigate how drone ecosystems (regulation, technology, operations, services and applications) can be rolled out across cities and busy urban environments in a fair, accessible and transparent fashion.
Phase 2 builds directly on Phase 1 (January 2024 – June 2026), moving from a prototype digital twin and early demonstrators to a live, governed U-Space trial.
Everything about the trial, in one place
About the project
Aims, objectives and the five-work-package plan for Phase 2.
Applications & services
Drones as first responders, and support for traffic, infrastructure, environment and planning services.
Digital platform
The U-Space Digital Twin, data catalogue and Common Information Services behind the trial.
Dockstation operations
A dock on top of Dublin Fire Brigade HQ at Tara Street, serving a planned 5 km operational area.
Collaborating partners
Maynooth University, the Irish Aviation Authority and Dublin City Council, funded through Lero.
DIP-Explorer
Ask questions about DIP regulations, policy, strategy, technologies, applications and operations.
One dock. A 5 km radius over the city.
The trial Dockstation sits at Dublin Fire Brigade, Tara Street, at the centre of the planned operational area, ready to launch on demand for city services and first responders.
Fifteen months from kick-off to city-scale rollout plan
Kick-off
Project kick-off; Oversight Board established
USSP procurement
USSP procurement underway; Digital Twin integration begins
Digital Twin complete
U-Space Geographic Zone designated
Live U-Space
Up to 3 operators, Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00
Dockstation Stage 1
Stage 1 testing complete
Project closes
Full multi-operator Dockstation operations complete