EHang announced last Friday in Vienna that they intend on partnering with the city of Linz, Austria, for deployment of the EHang 216 on a small scale as part of their pilot city partnership program, which involves the introduction of autonomous aerial vehicles (AAV’s) in cities across the world to gain feedback and data from experience in operations environments that match those of the ultimate goal of widespread commercial deployment of aerial mobility aircraft.

An artist’s rendering of the EHang 216 in flight over the Linz, Austria

According to EHang’s press release, this partnership will be the first pilot city partnership of its kind in Europe, and was made in conjunction with Linz AG and FACC. The overall intent of these pilot cities will be to “conduct passenger flights and goods transportation with autonomous air taxis in urban areas” according to EHang, and the pilot cities will be crucial in assessing the soft points of deployment – including customer experience and feedback, psychological considerations for new modes of transportation, infrastructure integration, and more.

An additional consideration of the pilot program is the public opinion of the environmental impacts of such transportation modes. EHang is hoping to provide answers to the challenges of environmentalists with their trail as its aircraft use electric motors with relatively low noise footprint compared to that of buses or emergency transport helicopters.

The trial program in LINZ will utilize the existing stable 5G infrastructure for augmentation of navigation and control during takeoff and landing, and the program will continue with test routes “running over uninhabited areas to the vertiports [that] will be determined within the city of Linz.”

Trail flights are planned in the near future, according to the press release, with more construction and scaling beginning in 2021.

Why it’s important: This further expansion of EHang’s pilot city program augments the company’s footprint in Europe, and provides a crucial data grab to determine what passenger and user experience considerations must be addressed. Since aerial mobility will be, similar to ridesharing, a user-interface oriented industry, compilation of user’s experiences and incorporation of that feedback as early on as possible in the deployment phases of aerial mobility aircraft systems will ensure a more productive and enjoyable final product.

Related:

• EHang Selects Guangzhou as Its First Urban Air Mobility Pilot City
• EHang Receives Special Flight Operations Certificate in Canada
• EHang Enters Agreement with Seville, Spain to Begin Urban Air Mobility Program
• EHang Obtains Operational Permit from Civil Aviation Authority of Norway

Source // EHang Press Release

EHang announced on July 31st the launch of the world’s first large-payload aerial firefighting system.  EHang converted its popular 216 model autonomous air vehicle (AAV) to a firefighting version, named the EHang 216F, which is specially designed for high-rise firefighting.  The decision to tailor the design to high-rise firefighting applications is indicative of the common use cases within China, a country with tens of thousands of high rise buildings.

EHang revealed the 216F at a launch in Yunfu, China, and demonstrated its capability to extinguish a high-rise fire.  Since the EHang 216F has a maximum flight altitude of 600 meters, and can carry up to 150 liters of firefighting foams and 6 fire extinguisher bombs in a single trip, the 216F is a viable urban firefighting vehicle that is ready for application today.  Visible light zoom cameras provide fire location functionality, after which the aircraft hovers in position and uses a laser aiming device to fire (in succession) a window breaker, the fire extinguishing “bombs” and then a full-range spray of firefighting foam.  Ehang also noted that multiple 216F’s could be deployed simultaneously for a more comprehensive response.

A fire station with traditional ground based firefighting systems and EHang 216F’s. Image // EHang

EHang’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, Huazhi Hu said, “We are pleased to introduce the EHang 216F AAV aerial firefighting solution, which solves difficult challenges in high-rise firefighting.  The high-rise fire use case highlights the practical application of our passenger-grade AAV platform to different smart city management needs.  The potential of our intelligent AAV technology platform is boundless.  We will explore and develop more aerial solutions and use cases to empower smart cities.”

Accelerating urbanization and building density are increasing fire hazards and creating more difficulties in firefighting.  According to a survey by China Fire Magazine, 233,000 fires were reported nationwide in 2019, among which 6,974 cases happened in high-rise buildings with a year-on-year growth of 10.6%.

EHang intends for 216F’s to be deployed in urban fire stations to assist in firefighting within a 5km radius of those stations.  Due to the autonomous nature of the 216F, a fleet of EHang 216Fs will be able to dispatch remotely for first response, in many cases prior to the arrival of firefighters. This reduction in response time is crucial to saving lives.

While not commonly broadcast, high-rise fires represent a growing problem with acceleration of urbanization, and the current existing firefighting technologies are not readily tuned for application in fires above 50m – the height of fire rescue ladders and the reach of fire nozzles are 50 meters at maximum, and ladders are not easily moved from one face of the building to another.  Traffic also adds to the response time of ground-based firefighting services.

Why it’s important: EHang is the first company within the aerial mobility industry to devote significant resources to creating a firefighting solution based off of their existing eVTOL technology, a novel use case that emphasizes the benefits of a rapidly deployed, autonomous, and reconfigurable platform. Especially in urban areas, the response time of the 216F would likely surpass that of any fire department for a high-rise fire, and multiple 216F’s deployed concurrently would enable effective firefighting. While the classic use case of on-demand transportation is most commonly imagined within the aerial mobility realm, anterior use cases such as firefighting may grow to consume more of the lions’ share of investment within the industry, at least early on, due to the immediate benefit and value proposition of such solutions.

Source // EHang Press Release

The PAL-V flying car will go on tour in the Netherlands in August of this year (via road and sky) to demonstrate the advantages of the aircraft to confirmed and prospective buyers alike. The PAL-V most closely resembles that of a gyrocopter in flight, and requires a gyrocopter pilot’s license to operate. While the vehicle can convert from car to aircraft in less than 3 minutes, it is currently only approved to make flights from airports. Unfortunately, taking off from the highway during rush hour isn’t approved just yet.

PAL-V will work with Dienst Wegverkeer (the Netherlands Vehicle Authority) to conduct final inspections that will lead to the car’s authorization to be driven on roads in the Netherlands next month.

Marco van den Bosch, the company’s director, noted in a statement that “Next month, after the certification is finally given, we want to have a tour and visit several cities in the Netherlands.”

The flying car maker intends on first deliveries of the aircraft in early 2021, a delayed date from the initial target of late 2019. This rollout progression may be indicative of the approximate entry to service dates for other aerial mobility aircraft, roughly a year later than anticipated. However, individual scenarios will inevitably vary.

While the PAL-V is truly a “flying car” or “personal aerial vehicle” (PAV) as they are commonly referred to, the application process with Dienst Wegverkeer and the Dutch Aviation authorities that will eventually allow the aircraft to conduct demonstration flights and drives in the Netherlands is a similar process that many aerial mobility manufacturers will need to undergo to bring their products to market. Additionally, the framework for approval in this instance offers the public an opportunity to meet the new products in person and offers opportunities for new feedback that might not have been obtained during earlier design phases.

Why it’s important: The PAL-V’s tour through the Netherlands is reassuring amongst the challenging times of COVID-19 in that the manufacturer is able to move forward with their rollout of the PAL-V as a commercial viable personal aerial vehicle that is currently available for sale.

Source // PAL-V and The Daily Star

Volocopter announced on July 16th that Dr. Arnaud Coville will take over the role of Chief Technical Officer from Jan-Hendrik Boelens. Dr. Coville joined the company as Head of VoloCity Development in May 2020, and brings with him expertise in technical leadership and aircraft design from past larger transport category aircraft and rotorcraft programs alike.

Volocopter’s VoloCity concept. Image // Volocopter

“Electrically powered air taxis will change aviation as we know it. Together with the talented team of experts here at Volocopter, we will bring the very first air taxi for safe urban travel to the market,” says Arnaud Coville, CTO Volocopter.

Arnaud Coville studied engineering and has a PhD in automatic control and robotics. His aerospace experience spans almost three decades. Volocopter stated in a press release that he assisted with development of aircraft from the Airbus Helicopters H135 to regional jets like the CRJ-700, through large aircraft like the A350 and A380. In these roles, Dr. Coville worked for companies including Safran, Fairchild Dornier, Diehl Avionik and Airbus Helicopter.

Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter stated “Jan-Hendrik has done tremendous work for Volocopter. For the past three years, he has led the VoloCity development and helped us reach defining milestones, including conducting several public flights and receiving Design Organisation Approval by EASA. It was under his leadership we brought our product this far, grew an exceptional team and helped set the Company up for success. Now we look forward to build upon this legacy and continue our journey with Arnaud Coville.”

Why it’s important: Volocopter aims to continue their technological development push through to small scale deployment of on-demand aerial mobility services. Accordingly, tapping Dr. Coville as a talent leader for Technology at Volocopter will allow the company to leverage his expertise working larger scale aircraft certification programs, presumably increasing the ease with which Volocopter will be able to see their aircraft through flight testing and certification under the purview of multiple regulatory agencies.

Source // Volocopter Press Release

Skydio, an autonomous drone technology company, announced in a Medium article on Monday the reveal of its new drone platform for the private and public sectors, Skydio X2. Additionally, the company also outlined how the Skydio Autonomy Enterprise Foundation, Skydio 3D Scan, and Skydio House Scan tools can increase situational awareness and aid with inspections.

The biggest reported advantage of the new flight control methodology is the increased reliability and repeatability of drone flights via autonomous methods. Said Adam Bri, Skydio CEO “Manual drones lack the software intelligence that enterprises need to scale their programs. Skydio’s goal is to unlock the value of drones by creating a radically simple user experience through the power of true autonomy.”

A rendering of the discretization of flight path objections used in Skydio’s Autonomous flight path control algorithms. Image // Skydio

The core IP is called Skydio Autonomy the “AI-powered brain built into every Skydio drone” The technology “creates a 3D understanding of the drone’s surroundings in real-time and predicts into the future to make intelligent decisions” and allows Skydio drones to fly themselves with the skills of an expert pilot. It can also serve as an expert copilot, turning anyone into a skilled operator, while Skydio Autonomy dynamically controls the drone’s navigation to avoid obstacles even in GPS-denied environments.

The technology has already been tested in the field as well. Skydio shared that the Civil Air Patrol, Ohio Department of Transportation, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Southern Company, Chula Vista PD, and Japan Infrastructure Waymark, among others, have already employed its use. Along with the advanced 3 dimensional mapping tech, Skydio also highlighted their industrial scanning and hardware upgrades that accompany the X2 initiative. While the hardware and industrial scanning advances are noteworthy, the IP of flight path recognition and adjustment lays the very foundation of algorithms that the next generation of aerial mobility aircraft will rely on during autonomous or partially autonomous operations – allowing planned flight paths to morph as required to safely transport passengers from point A to point B.

These announcements come in concert with the company’s other release from today, disclosing the $100 Million close of Series C funding, led by Next47 with participation from Levitate Capital, NTT DOCOMO Ventures, and existing investors including Andreessen Horowitz, IVP, and Playground. The Series C close brings the company’s total funding to $170 million

Why it’s important: Skydio has charged full speed ahead into the consumer drone market, but has also made concerted efforts to cater to both commercial and private drone operators, while maintaining a high level of focus on development of key enabling technologies that will allow for future aerial mobility advances in the coming years. While the application of Skydio’ Autonomous flight path technology is relegated to drones at the moment, it’s not too large of a leap to imagine that same scheme being used for aerial mobility.

Read the full articles on Skydio’s X2 Autonomous Drones and Series C Funding on Medium.

Source // Skydio Press Releases

Hanwha Systems CEO Kim Yeon-chul signed a memorandum of understanding on July 3rd in Seoul with Korea Airports Corporation President Son Chang-wan to partner on the development of UAM enabling technologies, including passenger boarding services, end-to-end integration, infrastructure planning, and airspace development tailored specifically for the commercial deployment of on-demand aerial mobility services.

Hanwha Systems UAM Conceptualization. Image // Hanwha Systems

Hanwha Systems previously established themselves within the aerial mobility sphere last year after investing substantially in Overair, a spinoff of the Uber Elevate Partnering Karem Aircraft company. Korea Airports Corporation intends to bring the construction and architectural experience commensurate with the firms’ management of 14 airports in South Korea. They also manage the Korea Civil Aviation Training Center. The partnership is also opportune as the integration between last-mile trips and transfers from fixed wing aircraft can be streamlined as development efforts are undertaken by KAC.

The MoU represents the expansion of aerial mobility frameworks in Asia, as nearby countries such as China continue to advance the progress and breadth of aerial mobility offerings that will soon be available to the public on an on-demand basis.

Kim Yeon-chul is quoted at the press conference stating that Hanwha Systems is to become a “global UAM solutions provider” by the year 2025.

Why it’s important: Hanwha and KAC represent a powerful partnership that allows for considerable experience to be leveraged from both air frame development and infrastructure know-how fields. Additionally, this MoU limits the exposure of each company within the aerial mobility industry and will allow for a more seamless integration of aerial mobility flight paths and vertiports at Korean airports already under management by KAC. Additionally, Hanwha System’s previous investments in UAM airframe design and development companies has allowed them to gain experience while limiting the large capital expenditures required to stand up a company from scratch.

Source // Business Korea, Korea IT Times, Hanwha Systems Press Release

Aerospace design company Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, recently entered a contract with DARPA to further advance the applications of active flow control methods as the primary means of aircraft design and flight path control, and to demonstrate the ability of this approach to maintain stability and control in flight.

Active flow control actuators, or effectors, as they are called, form the flow of air around aircraft’s surfaces which allow for controllability without moving parts, leading to increased efficiency and better integration. DARPA, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency that’s based in Arlington, Va., announced a contract worth $7.1 million last Friday in partnership with AFS to work on “Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors”. The project is nicknamed CRANE.

These novel flow control methods that eliminate the classical control surfaces normally found on aircraft such as elevators, ailerons, rudders, and secondary devices such as spoilers and trim tabs allow for a new realm of possibility for military and civilian aircraft. While the likely direct application of these effectors will be for classified defense projects, other secondary use cases could include eVTOL aircraft and aerial mobility technologies. Some existing eVTOL designs have already adopted this methodology and use modulation of power levels between electric ducted fan motors to control flight path. The CRANES project could take this design approach a step further, and create the pathway for dynamic surfaces that can modulate shape to redirect flow and result in a completely passive design.

Aurora Flight Sciences has been working on design and development of an eVTOL prototype for longer than most newer eVTOL outfits, and was acquired in 2017 by Boeing. Since the acquisition, the company debuted the first flight of the AFS/Boeing Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) and has continued with their flight test campaign. While effectors will likely serve a larger benefit for military R&D projects, they could be applied in simplistic forms to aerial mobility designs sooner than expected. The contract is set to complete in the summer of 2021.

Why it’s important: A variety of emergent aerospace technologies are being actively researched through government contracts, and while they may not yet be ready for direct application to aerial mobility or eVTOL designs, their potential benefits could be realized 5-10 years in the future as wide spread commercial application of on-demand mobility services becomes more commonplace. The unique configuration of many eVTOL aircraft would serve to benefit from effectors, as ducted fans and propulsory could potentially serve as the only “control surface” of the aircraft, reducing maintenance costs and increasing efficiency.

Source // DARPA, Aurora Flight Sciences

BAE Systems announced via a press release last week their roll out of innovative progress on the electric propulsion system power controller front. Electric ducted fans, or EDF’s, along with brushless electric DC motors, have become popular among many eVTOL prototypes currently in existence. While many designs finalized on DC motors without the ducted fans, the engine (or propulsor) controller technology that best regulates and optimizes energy consumption over time will enable a lower direct operating cost for many customers. When cost is amortized over many thousands of flight hours, those savings add up quickly.

BAE’s main controllers are laptop-sized and are purportedly able to manage almost any propulsive devise – small through large. BAE’s value add to the already well developed electronic engine controller market is their investment in core technologies to reduce the size and weight of their control devices. Their press release state that, as a result of their recent innovative processes, the controllers are now “40 percent smaller and lighter than their original size and weight, but with 10 times the processing power”.

BAE has also added additional cyber security protection measures to their controllers, in order to protect against increasing invisible threats to aviation security. Many aerial mobility companies are developing their propulsion management technology internally, but BAE’s plug and play approach caters to the popular design mantra of sourcing ready to use components in order to create a ready to fly prototype for faster (and arguably cheaper) than a vertically integrated design solution. The future of electric propulsor energy use optimization is crucial considering the projections of the ultimate size of the aerial mobility industry, and the huge efficiency gain and cost reduction from a mere 1% of net change in electricity use.

Why it’s important: Obsession with optimization is no new concept to the aerospace industry, and the concept of electronic brushless motor controllers designed specifically for aerial mobility aircraft, or hybrid propulsion solutions that require greater integration demands, is a subtle yet crucial detail and fundamental design decision for many UAM designers and manufacturers. Some companies will use plug and play hardware such as BAE’s offerings, while others will select to remain in house and create a tailored solution to their needs. Regardless, expect further reductions in weight and size of these controllers, as well as fundamentally different management architecture for systems that largely rely on more distributed power to achieve greater efficiency.

Source // BAE Aerospace Press Release