Project SKYLINE: A Mission Control Center for Scalable Drone Operations
One remote pilot, one drone—this model reaches its limits as soon as unmanned aviation is to be used on a large scale. In the SKYLINE collaborative project, we are therefore developing a mission control center for automated and autonomous systems: Unlike a traditional control center, it enables the simultaneous monitoring of multiple drones as well as the planning and adjustment of missions in real time. In this way, SKYLINE addresses a key prerequisite for scalable drone operations—from advanced air mobility to logistics and agriculture.
From a technical standpoint, the focus is on three key components: a standardized interface between ROS2 and ArduPilot for easily connecting different types of drones; end-to-end encrypted communication between the aircraft and the control center; and a dedicated radio link between the Digital Hub Industry at the University of Bremen and the Oldenburg-Hatten Airport (EDWH). This allows drones to be controlled from the control center while missions take place in geographically remote locations. An agricultural scenario involving field surveying with a thermal camera serves as a demonstration use case. The system architecture is designed from the outset to be expandable to include ground- and water-based systems.
Our role: the aviation regulatory classification of operations via a mission control center; standardized operational and emergency procedures for the simultaneous operation of multiple UAS; the establishment of the radio link; and test flights and approval submissions at the Hatten-UAS German Flight Center. The results will be directly incorporated into the service portfolio of our UAS control center in Bremen: Through standardized procedures and a Remote Control Center, the barrier to market entry will be lowered in the future for anyone wishing to use mission control as a service. Together with our partner TOPAS, we are developing this into a “test-before-invest” offering for regional companies.
SKYLINE (Duration: 2026–2027) is funded by the State of Bremen through the BAB – Bremer Aufbau-Bank. The project partner is TOPAS Industriemathematik Innovation gGmbH.
You can find more information on our project page: https://brm.de/projekt-skyline/









