Digital twin for virtual certification of unmanned aircraft systems

In recent years, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations have seen a remarkable surge, necessitating a robust regulatory framework to ensure safe operations. Operations in high-risk environments set higher requirements to overcome related risks such as collisions with civil aircraft, injuries, and accidents due to UAS operation errors. One of the possible solutions is to leverage digital twin (DT) technology. DT’s ability to design, build, and analyze procedures makes it one potential way to assist the certification process. The technological advancements of Digital Twins have made it possible to gain a deeper and more detailed understanding of how machines, products, and production processes function, and how they can be improved. Understanding the regulations governing the construction and operation of the product is essential in the certification process. A design tool that utilizes a digital twin to provide precise information on product configuration has the potential to assist the certification process. In the field of aerospace certification in the European Union (EU), while the traditional aviation industry has been subject to the framework of an international convention, it is fair to state that no such cohesive international standard or guidelines existed for civil drones till 2020. The regulation of unmanned aircraft systems with a maximum take-off mass of 150 kg was a matter for individual EU member states. Since 2020, the European Union drones’ legal framework is subjected to uniform regulation by European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This poster aims to provide an understanding of the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) European Union's legal framework and investigate the potential of utilizing digital twins to assist the certification process.