Integrating Advanced UTM Services in a Co-Simulation Environment
Antonios Tsourdos
Professor of Autonomous Systems and Control
Cranfield University
Abstract
As Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations scale in complexity and density, the need for robust, interoperable Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) services becomes increasingly critical. This keynote explores the integration of advanced UTM capabilities within a co-simulation environment, enabling the realistic evaluation of multi-domain interactions between airspace users, service providers, and regulatory frameworks.
The talk will highlight how co-simulation—linking heterogeneous models such as air traffic control, communication networks, navigation systems, and autonomous vehicle behaviours—provides a powerful platform for testing and validating UTM concepts under dynamic and uncertain conditions. Emphasis will be placed on interoperability, scalability, and the role of digital twins in bridging the gap between simulation and real-world deployment.
Through representative case studies, the keynote will demonstrate how such environments support the development of resilient, safe, and efficient UTM ecosystems, accelerating the path toward routine beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations and advanced air mobility integration. Integrating Advanced UTM Services in a Co-Simulation Environment.
Biography of the speaker
Antonios Tsourdos is Professor of Autonomous Systems and Control at Cranfield University. He was appointed Head of the Autonomous Systems Group, Cranfield Defence and Security 2007- 2012, Head of the Centre of Autonomous and Cyber-Physical Systems, School of Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing 2012 – 2024, Director of Research – Aerospace, Transport and Manufacturing in 2015 and Director of AI, Robotics and Space Theme, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science in 2024. He was member of the BSI Future Flight Standards Hub (2023-2024) and the AIAA Advancing Aerial Mobility Certification Task Force (2023-2024). Professor Tsourdos is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, he has served (2017-2023) as chair of the IFAC Technical Committee on Aerospace Control. He was co-investigator of more than 10 UKRI Future Flight Challenge projects as well as the EPSRC funded research programme CASCADE (Complex Autonomous aircraft Systems Configuration, Analysis and Design Exploratory)