T


he industrial revolution promised by automation has long seemed just around the corner. By now, most people have witnessed viral footage of a


quadcopter reaching blinding speeds, a bipedal robot doing tai chi or a quadruped Spot the Dog ambling around a car park. The conversation around an automated, drone- enabled economy has shifted from how to when - a question of equal, if not greater, complexity. Behind the machines themselves sits a vast space-enabled communications and navigation substrate. It must connect, analyse and assist each machine in flight, while remaining resilient under stress. For years, the investment needed to create or


even trial these systems has presented a chicken- and-egg problem. New demand is needed to justify the infrastructure, while potential users wait for that infrastructure to become available. These are not ideal conditions for encouraging


drone readiness in the UK. Progress is being made, but slowly, while a knowledge gap remains among the wider public.


“The biggest misconception is that drones


are either toys or fully autonomous robots,” Jenna Copley, director at UK drone manufacturer UAVTEK, told Advance. “Most people see the aircraft. They don't see the communications systems, navigation systems, safety procedures, training and operational planning required behind every flight.”


Laying the foundations Ofcom has proposed opening two new spectrum bands to provide additional connectivity for drone control on an interim basis. The intention is to allow industry to determine what works best while beginning a longer-term discussion about its future requirements. “For the UK use cases we see, a terrestrial solution often suits,” Nina Percival, Ofcom’s director of space spectrum and authorisation policy, said. “Where satellite comes in is in more remote areas and beyond-visual-line-of-sight.


Autumn 2026 | Advance 31


Photo credit: Viasat


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