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'Best of Session' Award for Lukas Biesalski at the Digital Avionics Systems Conference
Lukas Biesalski, a research assistant at the HDCC, and Uwe Klingauf, Director of the HDCC, as well as Jacqueline Bergmann and Jens Schiefele from the Institute of Flight Systems and Automatic Control at TU Darmstadt, attended the Digital Avionics Systems Conference together. | © Lukas Biesalski
Lukas Biesalski, a research assistant at the Hessian Drone Competence Centre (HDCC) and the Institute of Flight Systems and Automatic Control (FSR) at Darmstadt Technical University, received the „Best of Session Award“ for his paper „Development of a Novel Concept for Automated Arrival Sequencing at Vertiports“ at the 45th Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), which took place from 15 to 17 September in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The conference is one of the world’s leading platforms in the fields of avionics, air traffic control and integrated communication, navigation and surveillance systems in the aerospace sector. This year’s theme was: „Safe and Secure Digital Avionics in the Age of AI“.
Lukas Biesalski was there alongside HDCC Director Uwe Klingauf and his colleagues from the FSR, Jens Schiefele and Jacqueline Bergmann. In his paper, he explores the question of how to stagger landings at a vertiport when every minute of delay and every kilowatt-hour counts. This involves real-time optimisation of the approach sequence at a highly automated vertiport, taking into account both delays and energy requirements – whilst also covering non-nominal scenarios such as battery problems.
Key issues for the future of aviation discussed
The conference also focused on key issues facing the future of aviation: the safe integration of drones into airspace, reliable drone detection and high-performance detect-and-avoid systems. Discussions with international researchers and industry experts highlighted how closely technological innovation, automation and safety must be considered together in future aviation operations.
The researchers are taking the insights gained from the specialist presentations and discussions, as well as the new international contacts, back with them to Hesse. These will be directly incorporated into the HDCC’s research and testing work at Kassel Airport – and thus into the development of safe, scalable and practical solutions for the integration of drones into airspace.
Further information
Website of the Digital Avionics Systems Conference DASC 2026