The VSR700 took its maiden flight on November 8 in southern France

The VTOL UAV made by Airbus made its maiden flight, performing several take-offs and landings with the longest flight lasting at around 10 minutes. See Airbus’ announcement below:

Our prototype of #VSR700 unmanned aerial system has performed its first flight at a #drone test centre in the south of France! The VSR700 performed several take-offs and landings on Friday 8th of November with the longest flight lasting around 10 minutes.https://t.co/ALBWSvRmwp

— Airbus Helicopters (@AirbusHeli) November 12, 2019

While not a direct development for the urban aerial mobility industry, Airbus Helicopters drone, the VSR700, an unmanned derivative of the Gimbal Helicopters Cabri G2 platform, showed off its capabilities as it was tethered with 30-metre cables to fully secure the flight test zone. The next steps of the test campaign will allow to move to autonomous free flight, then gradually open the drone flight envelope, according to Airbus Helicopters. At sea testing is expected to take place in 2021 and will involve a French Navy vessel and a VSR700 operational demonstrator. 

The VSR700 is capable of a maximum take-off weight between 500 and 1000 kg. Additionally, while Airbus has not released official specifications, the drone is expected to automatically land and take-off, fly for ten hours at 100 Nm and carry 100 kilos of payload, i.e. radar and optronics, as explained by the French Navy, who are expected to take on the drone as they search for a fit to their SDAM program ( Système de Drone Aérien pour la Marine) which calls for a medium size VTOL UAV to be deployed from surface combatants; many capabilities which are similar to the ones required by the UAM industry, in terms of payload and total flight capabilites.

According to Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, “This first flight of the VSR700 prototype is a major milestone for the programme as we make progress on the operational demonstrator for the French Navy that will perform trials in 2021 in partnership with Naval Group.”

The VSR700 prototype which has just performed its maiden flight is a step change from the optionally piloted demonstrator that first flew in 2017. For the first time, the VSR700 was fitted with specific avionics and flight controls, a payload bay, and a more aerodynamic profile to improve flight performance.   

Why it’s important: The VSR700 or any of its derivatives will likely not see any part of the UAM industry, yet it is important to note the significance of the development of aircraft that are capable of taking unmanned flight for nearly a dozen hours while being able to carry roughly 6-8 passengers. The development of autonomous free flight in its complete form transferring over to Airbus’ UAM section could present a massive overhaul of how we approach the proposal of UAM services in urban areas. 

Source // Naval News

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JetPack secures funding to build a futuristic flying motorcycle

JetPack has raised a seed round of $2 million from investors indulging Draper Associates, Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn, YC, Cathexis Ventures and a group of angels that it says will fund the development of the Speeder’s first functional prototype. Earlier this month, we reported on a competitor, Aviator Cycles, debuting its own prototype for a flying motorcycle.

JetPack has secured $2M to develop its Speeder prototype.

These vehicles fit a niche market, likely best suited for futuristic/sci-fi-like recreation, rather than inter-city transport. Earlier this year, JetPack revealed plans for the their prototype, dubbed, the Speeder. The company claims the motorcycle can be controlled by a pilot, but will be mostly or completely autonomous, if desired. JetPack also claims the vehicle can reach speeds in excess of 400mph and has an impressive 5 minute refueling time.

“Should fully fund the first full-scale flying prototype, including all modeling designs and build,” says JetPack CEO and founder, David Mayman. Mayman is no stranger to pushing the edge in aerospace. He brings experience from creating an actual jet pack capable of speeds over 100mph and a small footprint.

JetPack believes the Speeder is more viable near-term than other VTOL designs because it will rely on turbine propulsion, rather than battery-based flight systems. Mayman states, “current battery energy density is just too low for most electrically powered VTOLs to be truly practical,” and that timelines optimistically for that to change are in the five to 10-year range.

Why it matters: JetPack appears to be entering a niche space of the eVTOL and aerial mobility industry. While other companies are emerging, their unique proposal of using turbine-based propulsion may bring them to market faster, but it remains to be seen if their operating costs will be superior to electric alternatives. Ultimately, it may not matter as these flying motorcycles are likely to be used solely for recreational purposes where operating economics aren’t as necessary of a consideration. Backed with Mayman’s experience in developing jet pack prototypes, we expect JetPack to be in the conversation of this sector in the coming years.

Source // Tech Crunch

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OXIS Energy and Bye Aerospace have begun a 12-month collaborative program announced in late July that seeks to achieve a 50% to 100% increase in flight time from a single charge on Bye Aerospace eAircraft.

OXIS has developed an innovative Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) battery technology that offers significant benefits to aviation markets. Compared to existing Li-ion battery systems technology, the high gravimetric energy density of the OXIS technology – in excess of 500 Wh/kg at 20Ah capacity – offers a two-fold reduction in battery system weight resulting in a significant increase in flight duration.

eFlyer prototype in-flight. Source: Bye Aerospace

At the outset, the program will test OXIS cells and modules against the performance characteristics of existing and soon-to-be-announced Bye Aerospace aircraft. This will produce data that will demonstrate the advantages of the OXIS Li-S technology to the aerospace sector and more specifically, to Bye Aerospace’s future aviation applications.

 OXIS CEO, Huw Hampson-Jones said, “We believe this collaboration will offer Bye Aerospace the confidence that OXIS Li-S systems will deliver the battery technology that meets the demanding performance and quality required to increase the efficiencies of their future electric aircraft. OXIS is focusing its research and development on the transformation of piston and turbo prop aircraft that is required for regional flight transportation. We believe this to be the first phase in the electrification of commercial aircraft and will ultimately form the basis for the electrification of Air Taxis, with the additional requirement for regional aircraft.

The United States has an impressive tradition of aviators who understand the need to experiment and embark on the deployment of new innovative technology, thus effecting a seismic paradigm shift in the powering of aircraft from using lead based fossil fuels to Li-S battery systems that are free of any toxic pollutants. As a consequence of the significant extension of aircraft flight duration, both companies believe this will allow for the widespread adoption of electric aircraft across the skies of the United States.”

eFlyer artist rendering. Source: Bye Aerospace

George E. Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace, acknowledged the importance of next-generation technologies to help companies such as Bye Aerospace keep up with the revolutionary trends of electric aviation and the resulting demands for more efficient aircraft. “OXIS Energy’s battery technology continues to be an important consideration, and we appreciate the opportunity to collaborate in this way.”

Why it matters: Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) batteries appear to be the future of electrically-propulsed aircraft given its superior energy density and weight reduction potential. The new technology will offer eVTOL and electric aircraft manufacturers greater flexibility in expanding a vehicle’s range, payload capacity, or a combination of both. As energy density improves, we expect electric propulsion aircraft to become a reality for manufacturers and customers across the industry and their stakeholders.

Aviator Cycles is taking a new approach to aerial mobility with personal air vehicles or PAVs

Houston-based investor, Jeff Chimenti, intends to fly his personal air vehicle in the next year. Source: Aviator Cycles

Jeff Chimenti, a Houston-based investor and co-founder of Washington based Aviator Cycles has unveiled its prototype in the Woodlands, Texas, just outside of Houston. The company offers a new take on aerial mobility and intends to focus on the recreation market exclusively with its self-dubbed personal air vehicles, or PAV.

“All of this is really happening,” says Chimenti, a Houston-based investor and chief visionary officer and co-founder for the startup. “We’re pushing it forward.” The prototype appears more like a motor cycle or four wheeler that will hover over just a few feet above the ground.

Co-founder Jesse Marcel has owned a patent for a similar technology initially for a prototype called the Aerorunner, GSX. It will be a sports vehicle that will flutter just a few feet above the ground. This will provide a greater level of safety according to the company. Their strategy is to avoid all of the regulations and red tape that the eVTOL industry will face.

Their efforts will not be with competition, however. Last year, California-based Hoversurf announced a similar recreational-based product which will be delivered for $150,000 per unit.

Aviator Cycles is confident, however, that their proprietary propulsive system is a winner and many other companies will end up imitating their design. “Everybody that designs is great, but they’re ultimately going to have to use our propulsion system,” says Chimenti.

The company intends to begin taking reservations in the next six months and begin flights some time in the next year.

Another artists’ rendition of Aviator Cycles’ PAV prototype. Source: Aviator Cycles

Why it matters: Aviator Cycles is taking a unique perspective on their product strategy in the aerial mobility space. Their prototype will likely not compete with other well known eVTOL manufacturers, but rather, fit a niche customer market looking for a futuristic recreational vehicle. Due to its size, other manufacturers can look to Aviator Cycles to innovate as it will offer superior propulsive efficiency when compared to other eVTOL platforms.

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