As drone traffic continues to grow in North Texas, Toronto-based AirMatrix has deployed a new Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) solution to monitor and manage the crowded airspace.
The company’s AI-driven Libra platform now provides real-time situational awareness for drone operators, public agencies, and municipalities across the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region. This deployment marks a significant milestone in enhancing airspace visibility in one of the busiest drone corridors in the United States.
Shayaan Haider, product lead at AirMatrix, explained the platform’s importance:
“Operators often lack awareness of what’s near them. Libra fills that gap by providing situational awareness so they know exactly what’s in their vicinity.”
DFW: A Hub for Commercial Drone Operations
The DFW metroplex accounts for approximately 15% of U.S. commercial drone flight hours, with over 75,000 beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) missions logged in 2024. These include delivery, inspection, and public safety operations.
Libra’s AI and large language models convert raw data into actionable insights, supporting real-time decisions and predictive analytics. In just one week, the system tracked 200 drone flights in its coverage area.
Operators can use Libra to identify nearby UAVs, while cities and agencies can analyze drone traffic patterns, average flight durations, and aircraft types via Remote ID signatures.
Expanding Coverage and Use Cases
AirMatrix is working with the Texas Drone Company and the FAA to strategically deploy passive-radar sensors throughout DFW. These sensors capture Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals to enhance drone detection and airspace monitoring.
The company is targeting three main customer groups:
- Drone operators
- Public safety agencies
- Municipal governments
“We plan to increase coverage with multiple sensors for redundancy, giving operators comprehensive situational awareness,” said Haider.
Commercial Partners and Future Expansion
With companies like Wing and Zipline expanding drone delivery operations in the region, AirMatrix aims to align its growth with these developments. The Libra system also supports law enforcement agencies, offering temporary deployments during large-scale events at NFL and MLB venues.
Municipalities and economic development agencies are interested in Libra’s data to help plan drone infrastructure, such as takeoff and landing sites.
A Growing Presence in North America
Since its founding in 2018, AirMatrix has partnered with aviation regulators in the U.S. and Canada to establish UTM systems. The company also develops AI-powered counter-drone solutions and urban drone operation strategies.
Notable projects include:
- A 2022 urban drone operations study with the City of Calgary
- A 2023 partnership with the Florida Department of Corrections to detect illicit drone activity using Libra-integrated radar and RF sensors
- A 2024 research initiative with NRC IRAP to enhance aerial threat detection for critical infrastructure and high-security facilities
With its latest deployment in DFW, AirMatrix is positioning itself as a key player in shaping the future of urban air mobility and drone traffic management.
