Earlier this year, CityAirbus eVTOL demonstrated its first untethered flight. Only weeks later, the company has announced it successfully completed its first autonomous flight. This is an extraordinary accomplishment for Airbus as it seeks to bring its aerial mobility prototype to market and demonstrates the ability to fly without an operator on-board. Nonetheless, the company states it plans to initially operate the vehicle with a pilot on-board for “mainly for psychological reasons,” an Airbus spokesperson said.

A recently published YouTube video, shown below, demonstrates the vehicles is able to takeoff, hover, and land all with the push of a single button. While Airbus has only demonstrated these simple maneuvers, the company intends to conduct more extensive flight testing at its Airbus Helicopters facility in Manching, Germany.

“We will extend the flight envelope of the aircraft, so we will fly forward and we will fly at medium and higher speeds than we did here in Donauwörth. There we have a secured area to do this kind of flight envelope expansion we need to do,” Bebesel says.

CityAirbus marks the second full-scale eVTOL prototype revealed by the company following its successful completion of a 138-flight test program with its Vahana eVTOL vehicle.

Why it matters: CityAirbus marks the second full-scale eVTOL prototype from the company, after Airbus Vahana. With demonstrated flight tests in both piloted and autonomous regimes, Airbus promises to be adaptable to current and future market demands in aerial mobility. If all goes well, the current prototype will continue flight testing for the remainder of the year in order to demonstrate the ability to perform safe operations without the need for an operator.

Airbus has recently released new footage of the CityAirbus eVTOL performing untethered flight at a facility in Donauwörth, Germany. Watch the footage below.

The footage was shared by Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even on his personal Twitter Account. The CityAirbus was quoted as being “a key element in our innovation roadmap in order to develop the techno-bricks necessary for achieving sustainable aviation.” Additionally, according to an Airbus spokesperson, the flight in the footage was in line with the previous flight tests, with no setbacks. Interestingly, it was also the first time Evens personally oversaw the flight of the impressive eVTOL demonstrator. 

The CityAirbus project, part of Airbus’ designs to develop a workable and mass-producible commercial electric air taxi service, explores many aspects for Airbus’ future program. The demonstrator features a four-seat, multicopter design, with eight propellers encased within four ducted propulsion units, and a top speed of 75mph. Airbus is also experimenting with integrated technology for autonomous flight. 

Watch CityAirbus’ first untethered flight here.

For more information on the demonstrator, visit our aircraft page here

The demonstrator features a four-seat, multicopter design, with eight propellers encased within four ducted propulsion units, and a top speed of 75mph.

Why it’s important: As confirmed early summer, Airbus remains committed to the development of the CityAirbus program and air mobility in general. As announced by an Airbus  spokesperson, “Airbus considers new forms of air transport such as UAM [urban air mobility] an opportunity to develop key technologies for the future of VTOL platforms, including electric flight and autonomy.”

Source // @BrunoEven (Bruno Even), Twitter

The city of Orlando is making additional investments for the aerial mobility framework of the future. The Orlando Business Journal reported that the Orlando City Commission is preparing to offer a total of $831,250 USD in tax benefits to Lilium over a period of 9 years to engage and attract aerial mobility companies to create an estimated 140+ jobs in the Lake Nona development.

Lilium reportedly was quoted stating that the investment is earmarked towards construction of a 56,000 square foot transportation hub, which would substantiate the job increase figures quoted. This transportation hub would serve as the primary means for aerial mobility operations for Lilium within Florida, and would likely serve other cities and locales with smaller scale “sub-hub” vertiports or individual helipads.

The agreement also underscores another often overlooked component of aerial mobility implementation – the personnel required to run the business. While a key facet of future mobility is ongoing automation of previously manned tasks, the bridge solution between current technological readiness and that of the 22nd century will include humans in the loop for the forseeable next decade, or two. Accounting for and planning the infrastructure for human interaction and operations that interface with the aerial mobility industry (across design and operations phases) is crucial to short-term success that will ultimately allow for mid to long term success.

Not unlike current fulfillment centers, aerial mobility transportation hubs will require personnel to perform quick turn actions to replenish battery packs, conduct maintenance and troubleshooting on aircraft needing repairs, and manage the physical implications of safety stocks of parts and other supply chain considerations. Increasingly, the infrastructure to support these applications is very similar to that of current factories and fulfillment centers, which also represent economic advantages to commercial land owners and developers within local economies.

Why it’s important: Orlando’s agreement with Lilium will provide an economic boost to the area, in addition to more jobs, and emphasizes the importance of human touch-labor for aerial mobility processes today. Bridge solutions will involve human interaction with eVTOL technology for at least another decade, which mean that there is additional opportunity for local economic development and stimulus from the aerial mobility industry prior to any commercial air taxi operations taking place.

Source // Orlando Business Journal

The City of Reno Fire Department was shown a live drone flight demonstration of the Casia onboard Detect-and-Avoid (DAA) collision avoidance system from Iris Automation last week, highlighting the drone’s capabilities to effectively operate beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). The demonstration was conducted within all Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program (IPP).

The demonstration took place in Nevada over the Carson River at Fort Churchill State Historic Park, using a drone integrated with Casia to illustrate how this cutting-edge technology will be used to provide automated situational awareness for drones and their pilots. DAA is a crucial component of beyond visual line of sight drone operations today, and commercial aerial mobility operations of the future, which will rely on very similar algorithms (in some cases the same) to ensure traffic deconfliction from other commercial aircraft and air taxis.

Casia in Flight near Reno, NV. Source // City of Reno

In Reno, the Fire Department intends to utilize this technology for a “River Search and Rescue program” that will test the safety and capability of using drones during river rescue missions in an effort to improve response times and reduce exposure of both first responders and victims to dangerous conditions during river rescue operations. The City of Reno reported that initial BVLOS flight operations will take place at the Carson River location with future testing to be conducted over the Truckee River as soon as next year. “The City of Reno has been a leader in the UAS community, and this demonstration is another example of the application of these technologies for public benefit,” said Jon Damush, CEO of Iris Automation.

In May 2018, the City of Reno was selected by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) as one of nine state, local and tribal governments to participate in the FAA UAS IPP. The UAS IPP is working with the nine public-private partnerships to implement and study specific drone applications across the United States in an effort to advance the safe integration of drones into the nation’s airspace. This program will effectively lay foundations for future aerial mobility operations that feature the same air traffic deconfliction logic, but with larger eVTOL aircraft that are carrying passengers, businesspeople, or medical first responders and patients.

Why it’s important: Iris’ technology for detect and avoid, and their BVLOS demonstration for the City of Reno’s Fire Department, both showcase the technological readiness for aerial mobility deployment in the coming years. The natural progression into full-scale aerial mobility operations will be through proven technologies on smaller scales (i.e. drones beyond visual line of sight) prior to those technologies being used for monitored, but autonomous aerial mobility flights through more congested airspace. This announcement also emphasizes the FAA’s level of commitment to technology maturation and integration with the existing airspace system, which accompanies the added goal of ensuring that current users of the National Airspace System are not affected.

Source // City of Reno Press Release

Aviation giant Airbus has continued to push forward industry advancement with the release of three new hydrogen-powered aircraft concepts. Although the concepts are fixed-wing rather than eVTOL, the release of these new aircraft can do much to push forward the world of aerial mobility propulsion, suggesting high potential for the future of hydrogen-powered flight. The new aircraft (depicted below) are scheduled to enter flight service by 2035.

The ‘ZEROe’ zero-emissions aircraft series includes a turbofan concept, a turboprop concept, and a “blended wing body” concept, which will open up multiple options for hydrogen storage and distribution and cabin layout

Liquid hydrogen represents a fairly bold choice for Airbus for the future. Previously Airbus had been working on the E-FanX, a now archived battery hybrid-electric concept. While many companies such as eViation Alice, Ampaire, and VoltAero are still focusing on creating rechargeable hybrid aircraft, which will greatly improve fuel use efficiency, Airbus is entering new territory in choosing liquid-hydrogen propulsion. eVTOL companies using hydrogen as a power source so far only include the Alaka’i Skai, and the Urban Aeronautics CityHawk. In general, hydrogen power is often chosen for its energy efficiency by weight. For example, a pound of liquid hydrogen can output more energy than can a lithium-ion battery of the same weight, making it a good choice for efficiency in aircraft design. However, hydrogen is not always as readily available as electricity.

This release by Airbus represents the company’s larger efforts to innovate in aviation. Of late, Airbus has also concluded its Airbus Vahana eVTOL project, and begun additional work on its Airbus CityAirbus eVTOL concept, which has now successfully completed autonomous hover flight. Airbus also recently outlined its vision for the future world of aerial mobility as a whole in its Airbus Altiscope blueprint.

Why it’s important: Airbus’s choice of hydrogen gives significant insight of what kind of fuel zero-emission aircraft may use in the future. Although many current eVTOL concepts currently are battery-electric only, some have chosen to use hydrogen as well for their various purposes. To many aircraft developers, choosing between hydrogen and battery-electric will be an important strategic business and technology choice, focused on what kind of applications their aircraft require.

Israeli aviation company Urban Aeronautics has partnered with HyPoint in order to develop a hydrogen-powered version of their CityHawk eVTOL. The partnership enables Urban Aeronautics to utilize HyPoint’s unique “turbo air-cooled” hydrogen fuel cell design to replace the existing powertrain which uses jet fuel. The new design of the CityHawk will possess obvious advantages; Lightweight, emission-free, reliable, and powerful, HyPoint’s fuel cell is ideal for use in a sector of aviation that increasingly favors environmentally friendly aircraft designs.

The CityHawk, a commercial version of the Cormorant, possesses a moderate resemblance to a futuristic car, lacking the wings or propeller arms that would be seen on the frame of a typical eVTOL aircraft. Officially designated as a “fancraft” by Urban Aeronautics, the VTOL takes flight through inconspicuous lift rotors installed at the front and rear, and is able to seat six people, with autonomous piloting. 

The current design of the CityHawk (and Cormorant) requires the use of several turbine engines, of which the power requirements vastly exceed the ability of any lithium battery-based powertrain, which was the main reason why Urban Aeronautics pursued a partnership with HyPoint. A hydrogen fuel cell powertrain possesses both the capability to run the turbine engines while also presenting a much more environmentally friendly alternative to jet fuel. According to Rafi Yoeli, CEO of Urban Aeronautics, “We look forward to collaborating with HyPoint on the integration of the next generation of hydrogen fuel cell systems for eVTOL transportation and the urban air mobility market… As a high-power, 100 percent environmentally friendly fuel, hydrogen is key to the future of eVTOL aircraft.”

Why it’s important: Urban Aeronautics pursuing a hydrogen based fuel source for the CityHawlk allows for them to keep the attractive design of the Cormorant, which possesses one of the smallest ground footprints of any VTOL air taxi design capable of seating four or more people. A completely electric powertrain is currently not feasible with existing battery technology, but the proposed alternative is the next best thing, as it will still allow Urban Aeronautics to vastly reduce their carbon footprint from their design.

Source // New Atlas

Advanced energy storage capability will be a key technological enabler for aerial mobility and major OEMs are beginning to notice.

Airbus has selected Ampirus Inc. of Fremont, CA to power its Zephyr project. Zephyr is a light, unmanned platform which made its first flight in 2014 and operates at high altitudes and low speeds for several weeks at a time.

Airbus has selected Amprius to power its Zephyr prototype and research battery technology for its aerial mobility programs.

As aviation begins to adopt electrically powered flight, the need for more efficient and energy dense batteries has emerged. Current battery technology does not offer nearly the amount of energy as a similarly sized fuel tank, a barrier which will need to be broken for electrically propelled aircraft to be commercially viable. 

Amprius claims that its lithium ion cells have the highest power density commercially available.

“What Airbus was seeking was the highest specific energy available in a battery,” says Jon Bornstein, Amprius’ chief operating officer.

“These are very light aircraft, and the kind of endurance they require is, once the sun sets, that you can power everything without gliding below a certain floor. The other thing is cycle life: the number of charge/discharge cycles. We were able to demonstrate those two things to them, and also the fact that our batteries were inherently safer than their legacy supplier.”

“Any battery fundamentally consists of a cathode and an anode, and we’re replacing a graphite anode with silicon, because silicon has 10 times more energy capacity compared to graphite,” Bornstein says. “But there’s also a problem with silicon, in that when it’s charged – when you stuff lithium ions into it – it expands. After a few charge/discharge cycles it cracks, and no longer functions. We’ve solved that with nanowires.”

“It’s essentially a lithium ion cell like any other,” Bornstein says, “just with an anode replacement. It uses materials that are available in the industry, and assembly technology that only needs slight modification. The biggest difference is the anode, and the manufacturing of the anode, which is totally different from anode manufacturing in a typical battery factory.”

An artist’s rendition of Zephyr, Airbus’ high altitude, low speed UAV.

Airbus has not disclosed the investment size but it will enable Amprius to ramp up production for its Zephyr project and includes funding for cell technology research in emerging aerial mobility programs. Bornstein points out however, aerial mobility platforms will require unique energy storage requirements, unlike unmanned aerial vehicles.

“Zephyr is essentially a glider, so you don’t really need power; you don’t need to pull a lot of current,” Bornstein says. “Whereas, in an urban air mobility vehicle you have a takeoff and a landing phase – so you need power to get off the ground, then you go into a cruise where you’re just sustaining the altitude, and then you land, which, again, takes power. The cells we’re developing for EVTOL are ones in which power is a critical factor. And we shine there as well.”

“There’s typically a significant trade-off between energy and power,” he continues. “If you want to pull a lot of current and sustain high power over an extended period, that usually means you have much lower energy. To get high energy you need to have, let’s say, thick electrodes – but that also creates a problem of impedance. We’ve taken advantage of our silicon anodes to have both high energy and high power; and that’s why the folks at Airbus really liked what we have, because we don’t have to trade that off. I mean, it’s not as good as just pure energy – but it’s much, much better than anything else that’s out there.”

Why it matters: Airbus’ investment in Amprius signals firm commitment to developing the necessary technologies needed to sustain aerial mobility. With this research, energy density will no doubt increase to the point at which aerial mobility vehicles can accomplish the missions they were designed to operate. While this investment is primarily aimed at the Zephyr project, it will no doubt trickle into the aerial mobility platform. Expect to see Amprius around for the foreseeable future as they lead the revolution in making electric propulsion a reality. 

Source // AviationWeek

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