Embraer Celebrates 50 Years with New Pulse eVTOL Concept

The Pulse Concept system transfers its futuristic, transparent pod from the aircraft to the autonomous vehicle, so passengers never leave the safety of the pod.

Embraer has positioned itself as an enduring leader in the aerial mobility industry with its EmbraerX eVTOL prototype, originally revealed at the 2nd Annual Uber Elevate Summit in Los Angeles, CA on May 8th, 2018. The company is also one of a handful of Uber’s OEM partners in its plan to stand up urban air mobility operations in strategically selected launch cities – Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne, according to most recent information.

Related: Uber and Embraer Partner to Bring Flying Taxis to Market by 2023

As Embraer closes 50 years of operations as a reputable manufacturer of commercial and executive jets, the company looks forward to the next 50 years. The Pulse Concept touts many of the advanced technologies and interior design characteristics for which Embraer is known, and reaches even further to technology that has never before been implemented in its fleet, or on any air vehicle across the globe.

Some key features of the Pulse concept pod include its universal docking design for ground and air transportation, and a smart-glass cockpit that allows passengers to work, communicate, and be entertained during all transit modes. Embraer highlights that its eVTOL concept has the ability to extend air travel beyond airports, with “door-to-door service” between destinations. Its “bird-like” capabilities, synonymous with eVTOL technology, will equip the vehicle with highly desirable maneuverability in urban, or otherwise congested, areas.

Embraer recently disclosed more details on the materials and manufacturing plans for the pod in an interview with Robb Report:

“The fuselage is particularly interesting,” emphasized Jay Beever, vice president of interior design for Embraer Executive Jets. “The pod structure is made of transparent aluminum, otherwise known as Alon. Though this material is classified and currently being considered for use by NASA and other governmental anti-ballistic projects, I think it would make a fantastic fuselage material.”

“Our current aircraft interior guidelines require three layers of material breakup and material change when a function is required,” he says. “We also have a geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) strategy which allows for adjoining systems and parts to move and/or be fixed in place depending on the purpose.”

An early rendering of a Pulse Concept car design. Credit // Embraer

Why it’s important: Beever closed out the interview with Robb Report by remarking that “there are other features of this interior that provide a sneak peek into projects we are working on, but we can’t reveal those.” The Pulse Concept signifies Embraer’s confidence in aerial mobility as the future of aviation, as well as the company’s ability to continue research and development efforts while many players in the aviation and transportation industries tighten discretional spending due to COVID-19 financial impacts.

Sources // Robb Report; Embraer