The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted approval for Israeli drone manufacturer Flytrex and drone services firm Causey Aviation Unmanned to provide a drone-based food delivery service. 

A Flytrex drone makes a delivery overhead.

As part of the FAA’s UAS Integration Pilot Program, Flytrex and Causey will implement their food delivery service in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The program was implemented in Holly Springs with the additional partnership with the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Town of Holly Springs. For now, the drone food delivery service will be limited to Holly Springs, but there could be potential for Flytrex and Causey Aviation to expand throughout North Carolina. 

The service itself will consist of the drones, piloted by Causey Aviation pilots, following a single, fixed route from Kite Realty Group-owned Holly Springs Towne Center to Ting Park, the sports and recreation stadium in Holly Springs. The FAA-approved route was designed with consideration for residents of Holly Springs, mostly taking place over unpopulated areas, and purposefully avoiding adjacent neighborhoods, although it will cross one highway, Route 55. 

Flight path for drone deliveries in Holly Springs. Photo provided by Flytrex and Causey Aviation.

“Regulation is crucial to the future of widespread drone delivery, both for safe operations and public acceptance, which is why we have been working diligently with the FAA to adhere to the highest standards of safety,” said Yariv Bash, CEO and Co-Founder of Flytrex, “We continually strive to reach new heights when it comes to advancing commercial drone use around the world. That is why we are thrilled to have been chosen to work so closely with the FAA to help this pilot take off. This is just the beginning as we expand the possibilities of sky-bound delivery.”

Why it’s important: Drone delivery expansion will be a service tied closely with urban air mobility, as the expansion will most likely involve the development of an Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management system. UAS Traffic Management Systems will be required for both drone delivery and UAM to expand into a large-scale service, making it mutually advantageous for both markets to take off. Flytrex makes for just one of the multiple third party companies competing to enter the US drone food delivery market, but with FAA approval to operate within Holly Springs, could see major success throughout North Carolina and the country if the service takes off. 

Sources // Fox 8

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Japan’s plans for flying cars by 2030 continues at Abiko, Japan, where the electronics firm NEC conducted two brief demonstrations for their developmental flying car.

The demonstrations featured the flying car, unnamed as of now, steadily hovering over the ground for about a minute using its four propellers. Conducted inside of a giant cage, the flying car did not seem to run into any issues in its brief flight. NEC has not released any of their flying car’s detailed technical specifications as of today.

“Japan is a densely populated country and that means flying cars could greatly alleviate the burden on road traffic,” Kouji Okada, one of the project leads at NEC, “We are positioning ourselves as an enabler for air mobility, providing location data and building communications infrastructure for flying cars.”

NEC is also one of the 80 companies sponsoring Cartivator’s own flying car, the SkyDrive. Read more about Cartivator’s SkyDrive on their own website here.

Japan plans to feature flying cars heavily in their infrastructure within the next two decades, with plans to not only incorporate eVTOLs in their daily transportation, but inter-island transportation, emergency relief, and deliveries all as potential industries for eVTOLs to be involved in. However, Japan will need to resolve the issues that many other companies industry-wide are facing, such as battery life issues, and regulation compliance. 

Why it’s important: Japan has heavily endorsed the idea of incorporating flying cars in daily life, going as far as to fund the construction of a huge test course in an area devastated by the 2011 tsunami and nuclear disasters in Fukushima. With such backing, Japan could possibly shoot to the forefront of the UAM industry moving past the developmental/test stage. 

Sources // New Atlas

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Founder and CEO of EHang Huazhi Hu was recognized for his achievements in the aviation industry at the Living Legends of Aviation Awards Europe. Mr Hu is the first Chinese honoree to receive this award.

Image provided by EHang

The Living Legends of Aviation, composed of both US and European members, are a committee that meets annually to recognize individuals in the aviation industry who have “made significant contributions to aviation” Hu joins other distinguished leaders such as Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Sir Richard Branson to have received the award. This year, the ceremony was held in St. Wolgang, Austria, and was hosted by famous actor John Travolta. The awards ceremony focused on the future of mobility, a fitting theme to induct the CEO of one of the most promising companies involved with UAM today.

Huazhi Hu (2nd from right), the founder, chairman, and CEO of EHang, has been recognized as the Living Legends of Aviation Awards Europe. Image provided by EHang

Mr. Hu was recognized for his efforts in helping develop the urban air mobility industry; EHang have developed some impressive eVTOLs in order to provide “user-friendly, safe, intelligent, and efficient aerial products and solutions including passenger transportation, logistics, smart city management and aerial media. “ His work has not gone unnoticed.

“I am greatly honored to be a recipient of the Technology Innovation Award presented by the Living Legends of Aviation,” said Mr. Hu. “Advances in aviation technologies are critical to the future of mobility, and I am grateful that the Living Legends recognize the central role that Autonomous Aerial Vehicles (AAV) will play in this. EHang is committed to improving how we transport both people and goods through urban landscapes, and I look forward to working with our partners towards building the smart cities of the future.” 

Robert Machtlinger (left), CEO of FACC AG, und Hu Huazhi (right), CEO of Ehang Image: Neumayr / Leo 20.07.2019

Why it’s important: The work done by Mr. Hu and his company is instrumental in further developing the urban air mobility industry. The EHang184 and EHang216 have both proven to be exciting, innovative developments towards commercially viable AAV vehicles. This award represents a well-deserved recognition for the efforts that EHang as a company have made so far.

Sources // EHang Press Release

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The Zurich-based startup, founded in 2016, has recently secured additional investors in their latest funding round. The funding round was led by Carthona Capital, with other investing VCs such as Redalpine and Amino Capital. Three former engineering managers of Daedalean’s founder and CEO, Dr Luuk van Dijk, back in his times at Google, are also investing as business angels. 

Swiss AI startup Daedalean has announced new funding in their development of the first certifiable AI for autonomous pilot and flight control, to a total of $113 million USD.

Daedalean is focused on building software for safety critical avionics, integrating modern robotics, computer vision and deep AI. According to the company the endgoal is to develop and certify the world first DAL-A rated autopilot – the highest safety-critical level for a fully autonomous flight. With this latest influx in capital, Daedalean can continue their development. Currently, the company plans to release “a safety enhancing solution at DAL-C (the Design Assurance Level set for software at the major level of safety-criticalness as defined by aviation authorities)” in 2021; the software is aimed at both conventional and eVTOL aircraft. Daedalean, with partners, is conducting flight tests and working on certifying its solutions with major aviation authorities (EASA, FAA). 

Dr Harald Nieder, Partner at Redalpine, said: “The Daedalean team is bringing some of the most advanced technology in computer vision and machine learning to aviation, redefining one of the biggest industries. With the surge in new aircraft models, like vertical take-off and landing, future air mobility will be much more individual, flexible and accessible. However, to make it truly scalable, comprehensive autonomy will be required. As a consequence, the big players in this new aviation landscape will be the autonomy providers. This is where we see the big opportunity with Daedalean. It’s a great case of huge commercial potential, while being strongly differentiated by technology.”

The company was founded in 2016 by a team of engineers with backgrounds in companies like Google and SpaceX. As of July 2019, its team includes 20+ software engineers, as well as avionics specialists and pilots. Daedalean works with major eVTOL companies and leading aerospace manufacturers to specify, build, test and certify a fully autonomous sensor and autopilot system that can reliably and completely replace the human pilot. It has developed systems demonstrating crucial capabilities on a path to certification for airworthiness. Currently the company is working with EASA on an Innovation Partnership Contract to develop concepts of design assurance for neural networks. 

To learn more. visit Daedalean’s website here.

Why it’s important: Complete autonomy will be a key enabler for future personal air taxi services. Building the world’s first DAL-A rated autopilot – the highest safety-critical level for a fully autonomous flight — will empower future air mobility, drastically improving the rate at which eVTOLs enter the market, and bring closer the future of urban air mobility. 

Sources // Daedalean Press Release

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This week at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Continental Aerospace Technologies announced its intention to partner with VerdeGo Aero to provide Integrated Distributed Electric Propulsion (IDEP) systems for eVTOLs.

VerdeGo Aero’s original eVTOL concept, before the company pivoted to providing IDEP solutions rather than an entire eVTOL.

The hybrid electric technology by VerdeGo will most likely draw from Continental’s current diesel piston aircraft engines, which would be tied to electric motors and batteries in a “plug-and-play” format integrating with VerdeGo’s powertrain system. This design consideration will allow for eVTOLs to meet the upcoming demands of urban air mobility by utilizing jet fuel, which is widely available, while still enabling compatibility with future battery technologies. 

“This strategic partnership continues Continental’s long history of innovation and expands beyond general aviation into emerging commercial markets requiring hybrid-electric propulsion,” said Rhett Ross, CEO of Continental Aerospace Technologies. “Continental, as always, remains at the forefront of innovation and intends to lead the aerospace market through its next breakthrough. Since our birth, over 115 years ago, we continuously innovate to be the first choice in general aviation.”

VerdeGo Aero’s IDEP system

VerdeGo Aero, based in Daytona Beach, is optimistic about the partnership.  “Revolutions in aircraft come from revolutions in propulsion,” said Erik Lindbergh, CEO of VerdeGo Aerospace. “This is the most exciting time in aviation I’ve seen in my career.”  

Why it’s important: Continental’s partnership will most likely strengthen Verdego’s development of IDEP systems for urban air mobility. The capability to integrate both battery and combustion engines into the IDEP system is an important design feature, and could see a large amount of demand from OEMs looking to provide an eVTOL that utilizes both types of energy. 

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Hanwha Systems, a South Korean defense technologies company, is making a $25 million equity investment in a U.S. based startup in order to further develop UAM.

While Hanwha Systems has been previously involved with the aerospace industry, playing a significant role in the development of the KAI KF-X jet’s avionics, this investment in K4 Aeronautics its first into the air taxi industry.

The idea of urban air mobility is especially attractive for the residents and industries of Seoul, South Korea, a city that has roughly 2 million more residents than NYC but is 75 sq. miles smaller in size. For this purpose, Hanwha Systems is specifically targeting the development of personal aerial vehicles (PAV), citing interest in the budding air taxi market as a possible cost-efficient alternative to helicopter or private jet flights. “The personal aerial vehicle is an attractive business item that can expand our business into new fields by utilizing technologies from aviation electronics and information communication technology,” according to Hanwha Systems, “We will foster it as a future growth engine through global investment and cooperation with leading companies”.

Hanwha System CEO Chang Si-Kweon (left) and K4 Aeronaumics chief Ben Tigner (right). Source: Hanwha Systems

While new to the UAM industry, K4 Aeronautics has already acquired a number of patents applicable to the manufacturing of efficient and environmentally friendly eVTOLs, according to Hanwha. While the California-based company’s deal with Hanwha has not yet been approved by the US government, it should happen soon. “We believe K4 Aeronautics will meet the standards for market entry,” Hanwha Systems said in a statement. “Our investment deal will proceed with the normal requirements for the US government’s approval process”.

The South Korean company added that it would utilize its aerospace electronics, software. and cybersecurity technologies for the development of PAVs and officially expand its business to the UAM market.

Why it’s important: The latest investment by Hanwha’s represents yet another country’s interest in developing urban air mobility solution. With such a large investment in a U.S company, Hanwha illustrates the depth of international business collaboration that will enable UAM. 

Sources // Korea Herald

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Paragon VTOL Aerospace, a multi-national VTOL maker, has recently adopted solutions from Siemens Digital Industries in order to expedite and improve their product development process. 

Paragon VTOL’s T21 Raptor

As part of Siemens’ new Aerospace Startup Program, the company is providing an integrated set of software solutions for Paragon VTOL Aerospace to design, test, produce, and monitor both current and future drone designs. With this partnership, Paragon intends to reduce both time and cost for their product development process, and more quickly bring their products to market. According to Paragon VTOL founder Dwight Smith, “Our vision is to provide a portfolio of intellectual property, industry specific drones, human passenger drones, and virtual highway platforms in Jamaica”.

“We currently have plans to implement software and hardware programs in 2019 and begin testing two to four passenger drones by year-end 2019.”

Paragon Aerospace’s specialty lies in providing industry-specific drone hardware which could be used for security, law enforcement, or general transportation. The company is also currently involved with Aerotropolis Jamaica, a Jamaican government project lead by the Hon. L. Michael Henry in the Office of the Prime Minister, where their focus is to build and maintain an ecosystem and infrastructure for UAM in Jamaica.

“Our T21 Raptor is designed for universal applications based on industry requirements. We have successfully operated our third small scale prototype and developing a full scale to clear a path for commercialization.”

For Siemens, the goal is to partner with new businesses in aerospace emerging technology markets, provide market-leading CAD and CAE software solutions, and help startups embrace digitalization in product development. Siemens Director of Aerospace & Defense Bobby Blackmon said: “The aerospace industry is changing rapidly… Companies like Paragon are bringing new, emerging technology to market and changing the way we view the world. Siemens is proud to provide solutions from our market-leading Digital Innovation Platform to Paragon as part of our Aerospace Start-up Program.”

Visit Paragon VTOL’s site here.

Visit Siemens’ site here.

Why it’s important: The importance of modern and efficient software in the aerospace industry is rising with the growing UAM market. To provide quick, safe, and efficient flight services, especially in urban areas, companies like Siemens involved with the UAM industry must implement up-to-date software solutions in their designs, especially if in the future autonomous flight services become the staple mode of transportation. 

Source // Paragon VTOL Aerospace

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