About the HDCC
Hessian Drone Competence Centre at Kassel Airport
Drone technology is advancing rapidly. Unmanned aircraft systems are playing an increasingly important role in protecting critical infrastructure, crisis preparedness, disaster response, and logistics. At the same time, drones themselves are becoming part of hybrid threats. Therefore, technological development and the speed with which innovations can be tested under real-world conditions, refined, and implemented are crucial.
With the Hessian Drone Competence Centre (HDCC), in German "Hessisches Drohnenkompetenzzentrum" (HDKZ), at the Technical University of Darmstadt, Kassel Airport is becoming the first site in Hesse with dedicated infrastructure that systematically accelerates the transfer of research into practice. To this end, academia, industry, public authorities, and critical infrastructure operators are working closely together.
TU Darmstadt is developing innovative solutions for using drone technologies. | © HDCCSascha Mannel
Researchers from various disciplines work closely together at the HDCC. | © HDCC, Sascha Mannel | © HDCCSascha Mannel
New technologies are tested under real-world conditions at Kassel Airport. | © HDCCSascha Mannel
TU Darmstadt is developing innovative solutions for using drone technologies. | © HDCCSascha Mannel
Researchers from various disciplines work closely together at the HDCC. | © HDCC, Sascha Mannel | © HDCCSascha Mannel
New technologies are tested under real-world conditions at Kassel Airport. | © HDCCSascha Mannel
Skills
HDCC's Areas of Expertise
The Hessian Drone Competence Centre at Kassel Airport brings together four areas of expertise, that cover the entire innovation process. Close collaboration and exchange between partners ensures innovations are implemented more quickly.
Research / Knowledge Transfer
Interdisciplinary teams at TU Darmstadt are developing solutions for the use of unmanned systems.
Real-World Testbed
Kassel Airport is a unique location for testing new drone and aviation security technologies under real-world conditions.
Skill Training Centre
New findings are fed directly into qualification programmes, trainings and exercises, thereby enhancing safe use of application in professional settings.
Innovation Ecosystem
The scientific community, the business sector, critical infrastructure operators, and public users collaborate closely.
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Further informationNews
What’s new? Insights, News, and Events
In our 'What's New' section, we cover a wide range of activities at the Hessian Drone Competence Centre at Kassel Airport: from new research projects and trials at Kassel Airport to training programs at the Skill Training Centre and partnership with public authorities, critical infrastructure operators, and companies. We also provide information about upcoming events, and share insights into the latest developments of unmanned aircraft systems.
Things to know
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find concise answers to frequently asked questions about the Hessian Drone Competence Centre at Kassel Airport (HDCC).
Technological developments in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are outpacing traditional innovation processes. New drones, sensors, and AI applications are emerging in ever-shorter cycles.
At the same time, requirements regarding safety, security, regulation, and integration into existing infrastructure are becoming increasingly demanding. Germany therefore needs structures that connects research, testing, training, and application more closely, bringing innovations into practice more quickly. This is precisely where the Hessian Drone Competence Centre at Kassel Airport comes in.
The Hessian Drone Competence Centre at Kassel Airport (HDCC) is an innovation and technology transfer centre at TU Darmstadt. It brings together research, testing, training, and fosters collaboration between academia, industry and public sector users accelerating the implementation of innovations in unmanned aircraft systems.
Drones are being used for an increasing number of tasks in critical infrastructure and civil protection as well as disaster management and logistics. At the same time, technologies for unmanned aircraft systems are advancing ever more rapidly. The number of hybrid threats involving drones is also increasing.
The Hessian Drone Competence Centre (HDCC) at TU Darmstadt is therefore establishing the infrastructure needed to develop innovations more quickly, test them under real-world conditions, and implement them.
As a functioning commercial airport, Kassel Airport provides a unique environment in which to research and test new drone and aviation security technologies. This includes Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations under real-world conditions, as well as concepts for the safe interaction of manned and unmanned aircrafts.
In this way, the HDCC contributes to the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into low-altitude airspace while providing an ideal testing environment for new technologies.
BVLOS stands for “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” and refers to operating a drone beyond the direct line of sight of the pilot. Such flights are essential for many future applications, including critical infrastructure inspections, logistics, civil protection and disaster management, or situational assessment over large areas.
Ensuring the safety of BVLOS operations places particular demands on communication, navigation, sensor technology, and airspace integration. The Hessian Drone Competence Centre at Kassel Airport (HDCC) researches and tests new technologies and procedures to meet these requirements in a commercial airport environment. This way supports the safe operation of unmanned aircraft systems as part of future air traffic.
The Kassel Airport Real-World Testbed, operated by the Hessian Drone Competence Centre, enables new drone and aviation security technologies during ongoing airport operations. It brings together researchers, companies, and future users to develop and refine new solutions.
Drones are playing an increasingly important role in critical infrastructure protection. For example, they can inspect facilities, provide real-time situational awareness, support emergency responders, and monitor hard-to-reach areas.
However, unmanned aircraft systems can also threaten critical infrastructure when used in targeted attacks as part of hybrid operations. This makes it all the more important to continually refine technologies for drone detection and safe integration into airspace integration, and to test them under real-world conditions.
Funding
Funded by: