West Midlands drone company launches groundbreaking trial to understand future of self-driving cars
A drone company, based in Coventry, is today announcing the launch of a groundbreaking trial as part of the wider Solihull and Coventry Automated Links Evolution (SCALE) project - a collaborative initiative, aimed at better understanding the role self-driving vehicles might one day play within our future transport system.
Skyfarer drones, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, The National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Coventry City Council, and Ohmio, will show how Drone-in-a-Box (DiaB) technology can enhance the safety, efficiency, and management of Connected Autonomous Mobility (CAM) systems.
Hosted at the NEC, the trial demonstrates how drone data can enhance the performance and safety of autonomous ground vehicles operating over a 5G network.
By integrating aerial intelligence with land-based mobility systems, the project assesses how DiaB technology can contribute to enhanced passenger assurance and venue safety, increased operational efficiency through automated inspections and surveillance, cost savings in long-term infrastructure and maintenance and real-time situational awareness and emergency response capability
Elliot Parnham, CEO of Skyfarer said: "Through SCALE, we are exploring the operational potential of fully automated drone systems, specifically using our DJI Dock 2 drone to provide real-time data solutions in real-world, high-traffic environments that empower public sector partners to enhance safety, streamline operations, and future-proof critical infrastructure aligned with autonomous vehicle operations.”
The use of the DJI Dock 2, a self-contained, weather-resistant drone station, marks an exciting step forward for the CAM industry. With the ability to remotely launch scheduled or ad-hoc flights, this system requires minimal human intervention and offers remote operations, live video streaming, and real-time health monitoring.
The trial will focus on several key objectives:
Testing DiaB integration into CAM operations and traffic management applications managed over 5G
Comparing 5G NSA and SA performance under high vs. low crowd densities
Evaluating real-time data applications for predictive maintenance
Laying the foundation for future large-scale autonomous deployments
This initiative exemplifies what’s possible when councils and private sector leaders work together. Each partner brings distinct expertise - Skyfarer Ltd: Drone technology and integration lead, NEC: Host site for trials, offering a real-world, high-traffic venue, Ohmio: Autonomous vehicle technology partner and Solihull & Coventry Councils: Supporting public sector innovation, mobility strategy, and regulatory alignment
Sunil Budhdeo, Coventry City Council, said: “We were proud to host DIAB trials within Coventry, and look forward to further testing of the systems and 5G integration both at the NEC and at Coventry.”
Elliot adds: "The SCALE Project is a bold step toward smarter, safer, and more connected transport ecosystems. By harnessing drone automation and next-gen connectivity, we’re not just trialling new tools, we’re reimagining infrastructure, mobility, and venue safety."
