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Cyclorotor unveiled footage of the first flight of their Bumblebee2.0 concept with an Enhanced Propulsion system last week. The flight occurred at the end of August, 2023. This aircraft showcases a unique configuration, featuring four CR42 CycloRotors and an advanced flight control system. The launch of the outdoor flight campaign marks progress toward development of CYCLOROTOR’s unique aviation propulsion system.

The flight demonstration took place at a general aviation airport in Austria. CYCLOROTOR shares that their outdoor flight operations adhere to all applicable regulations set by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), operating under the UAS operational authorization for the “specific” category.

Over the coming months, Cyclorotor plans to demonstrate the capabilities of its 360° thrust vectoring CycloRotors. These innovative propulsion units are based off of a design that’s over 100 years old and can challenge traditional aerial mobility industry aircraft configurations. However, not all are in agreement of the level of enhanced maneuverability, stability, and efficiency in flight offered by this unique configuration. CYCLOROTOR aims to systematically expand the flight envelope, further exploring and collecting data on the performance of their unique aircraft design.

While the debut of Bumblebee2.0 represents a unique application of a novel propulsion and lifting concept that is over a century old, it is important to note that this novel configuration may only partially permeate into limited applications in the drone industry. As with any unique configuration, widespread adoption often requires time and industry-wide acceptance in addition to successful, demonstrated performance.

Why it’s important: CYCLOROTOR has invited aviation enthusiasts, industry stakeholders, and the public to stay tuned for more updates as they continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of aerial mobility. While their novel configuration is still not proven for widespread application, the team is making strides toward advancement of a unique type of aircraft and collecting data that can be used to improve future variants.

VoltAero has achieved a significant milestone by conducting a flight using its proprietary electric-hybrid powertrain, fueled entirely by sustainable bioethanol from TotalEnergies. The landmark event took place at VoltAero’s development facility in Royan, France, and represents a giant stride towards greener and more sustainable aviation.

The successful flight test utilized VoltAero’s Cassio S testbed airplane, serving as a crucial validation step for both the electric-hybrid powertrain and the use of sustainable fuels. This accomplishment plays a pivotal role in de-risking the airworthiness certification process for forthcoming production models within the Cassio aircraft family.

Jean Botti, CEO and Chief Technology Officer of VoltAero noted that “based on initial results, we calculated a truly impressive CO2 reduction of approximately 80 percent while operating the Cassio powertrain in its electric-hybrid mode and with the internal combustion engine fueled by TotalEnergies’ Excellium Racing 100.” This development highlights the potential of Cassio aircraft to contribute significantly to the aviation industry’s decarbonization goals by replacing conventional Avgas 100 high-octane fuel.

The collaboration between VoltAero and TotalEnergies reflects a step toward the broader adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in general aviation. Excellium Racing 100, derived from winemaking waste, has demonstrated its environmental benefits in automobile competitions and features a 65% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to its fossil fuel counterparts over its life cycle.

Joël Navaron, President of TotalEnergies Aviation, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting aviation’s decarbonization objectives. TotalEnergies has initiated various actions, including the installation of electric charging stations for general aviation aircraft and a pilot program aimed at offering SP98-type fuel for compatible aircraft.

The Cassio family of aircraft, integrated with VoltAero’s patented electric-hybrid propulsion system, promises to revolutionize regional commercial operations, air taxi services, private ownership, and utility applications like cargo transport and medical evacuation (Medevac). With its unique hybrid propulsion system, Cassio delivers higher performance and significantly reduced operational costs.

Why it’s important: VoltAero’s latest achievement is desired by those in aerospace to become a more common occurrence in the next chapter of aviation, taking aerial mobility one step closer to more environmentally friendly outcomes. While the current supply of sustainable aviation fuel does not yet support full deployment of flights using SAF, compatibility with sustainable aviation fuels is crucial for future regional mobility aircraft designs.

Joby has announced it plans to locate its first scaled aircraft production facility in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation.

Joby plans to build a facility capable of delivering up to 500 aircraft per year at the Dayton International Airport, supporting up to 2,000 jobs. The 140-acre site it has selected has the potential to support significant further growth over time, providing enough land to build up to two million square feet of manufacturing space. Construction of the scaled Ohio facility is expected to start in 2024 and it is expected to come online in 2025. Joby plans to use existing nearby buildings to begin near-term operations.

The State of Ohio, JobsOhio and local political subdivisions have offered incentives and benefits of up to $325 million to support the development of the facility, while Joby plans to invest up to $500 million as it scales operations at the site. Joby is also announcing today that it has been invited by the U.S. Department of Energy to submit a Part II Application for financing under the Title XVII Loan Guarantee Program, which provides access to low-interest loans for clean energy projects and would support the scaling of the facility.

Joby’s long-term investor, Toyota, who worked with Joby on the design and successful launch of the company’s Pilot Production Line in Marina, California, plans to continue to advise Joby as it prepares for scaled production of its commercial passenger air taxi in Ohio.

“We’re building the future of aviation right where it all started, in Dayton, Ohio,” said JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby. “The Wright Brothers harnessed revolutionary technology of their time to open up the skies, and we intend to do the same — this time, bringing quiet and emissions-free flight that we hope will have an equally profound impact on our world.

“The U.S. continues to lead the way on introducing this technology, with unprecedented levels of support across all areas and levels of government. We’re incredibly grateful to Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator JD Vance, Representative Mike Turner, and the team at JobsOhio for their support, as well as the representatives of the many other states we worked with during this process.

“Our partnership with Ohio is a great example of how successful public-private partnership amongst industry, local, state and federal government can bring important new technology to life.”

Joby plans to start hiring in the coming months, with early roles expected to focus on the build out of the scaled facility and the machining of parts that will initially be incorporated into Joby’s California low-volume production line.

Joby’s headquarters, research and development, and pilot production facility will remain in California.

Why it matters: Economic incentives from state and federal governments and Joby’s deep partnership with Toyota and the automotive industry make the rust belt the perfect location for a scaled eVTOL manufacturing facility. With the new jobs generated and ability to secure low-interest loans for the development of the site, Joby stands to quickly produce its eVTOL at rates up to 500/year.

Source: Joby Press Release

The FAA has authorized Zipline International, Inc. to deliver commercial packages around Salt Lake City and Bentonville, Arkansas using drones that fly beyond the operator’s visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Part 135 operator Zipline uses its Sparrow drone to drop cargo packages via parachute and this FAA approval will enable the longest range drone delivery flights that the United States has ever seen. Data collected from these operations will inform the FAA’s ongoing policy and rulemaking activities. 

“Today we use 4,000 pound gas combustion vehicles driven by humans to do billions of deliveries across the country. It’s expensive, slow and bad for the environment. This decision means that we can start to transition delivery to solutions that are 10x as fast, less expensive, and zero emission,” said Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, CEO and co-founder of Zipline. “It means that Zipline hubs across the country can now go from serving a few thousand homes to serving hundreds of thousands of homes each year and millions of people, which will save time, money and even lives.” 

Related: NASA Signs Space Act Agreement with Zipline

Okeoma Moronu, Zipline’s head of Global Aviation Regulatory Affairs, said: “We applaud the FAA for taking a major step to integrate autonomous drone delivery into the airspace. This will enable more commerce, new economic opportunities and greater access for millions of Americans. The FAA has incredibly high safety standards and it’s a testament to the entire Zipline team that our delivery drones are entrusted to fly and deliver at scale, over populated areas, in the most complex airspace in the world.” 

Meanwhile, The FAA is focused on developing standard rules to make BVLOS operations routine, scalable and economically viable. The agency chartered the Beyond Visual Line of Sight Aviation Rulemaking Committee on June 9, 2021 to provide safety recommendations to the FAA. The FAA’s long-term goal is to safely integrate drones into the National Airspace System rather than set aside separate airspace exclusively for drones.

Why it’s important:

The FAA’s role in enabling BVLOS operations is pivotal to the future of not only small-scale drone delivery operations, but also passenger urban air mobility. By embracing and regulating this technology, the FAA is paving the way for safer, more efficient, and sustainable urban transportation. The benefits are clear: improved safety, reduced congestion, economic growth, greater accessibility, and a leading position on the global stage.

As we look to the future, it is evident that BVLOS operations are not just a regulatory necessity but a key enabler for the realization of UAM’s potential, promising a brighter and more connected urban landscape for generations to come. While some eVTOL aerial mobility manufacturers and operators are currently pursuing onboard pilot aircraft configurations, it’s inevitable that future variants will converge on mostly autonomous or remotely-piloted operation.

Innovation is soaring to new heights in aerial mobility, and recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are challenging the ways traditional methods of flight path monitoring. While there is the potential to significantly enhance safety and efficiency in our increasingly crowded skies, there are also challenges related to how cutting-edge AI technologies can be safely and responsibly applied to new aircraft.

The Challenge of Aerial Mobility

Aerial mobility continues to make inroads on the path to widespread certification and utilization of aircraft to decongest urban areas and more efficiently transport passengers the last 50nm of their trips. With the rapid growth of drones, air taxis, and autonomous aircraft, cities around the world are embracing the potential for faster, cleaner, and more efficient transportation. However, this comes with its own set of challenges, particularly in managing and coordinating the movement of numerous airborne vehicles in urban environments.

AI-Powered Predictive Flight Path Monitoring

AI-driven predictive flight path monitoring has a potential to be a game-changer in this space, but with serious complications if implementation isn’t nearly flawless. AI algorithms, empowered by deep learning and real-time data analysis, enable aerial mobility systems to anticipate and adapt to changing conditions. A potential rosy future could include:

1. Collision Avoidance: AI algorithms can predict potential conflicts between aerial vehicles and suggest alternative routes to avoid collisions. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of accidents, making urban air travel safer for everyone.
2. Weather Forecasting: AI can process vast amounts of weather data in real-time, allowing aircraft to adjust their routes to avoid turbulence, storms, or adverse conditions. This not only enhances safety but also ensures smoother and more comfortable rides for passengers.
3. Traffic Management: AI-powered traffic management systems can dynamically allocate airspace and landing zones, optimizing routes to minimize congestion and delays. This promotes efficient use of airspace, reducing travel times and environmental impact.
4. Predictive Maintenance: AI can predict maintenance needs for aerial vehicles by analyzing sensor data. This preemptive approach ensures that aircraft are in optimal condition, reducing the risk of in-flight mechanical failures.

While the above list of advances sounds incredibly convenient, it also reflects what many sight as an idyllic view of AI’s implementation in aerial mobility. There are numerous challenges to face, including sporadic, erratic flight paths from other aircraft, regulatory integration and certification, as well as ethical and privacy concerns, especially for those not wanting the data from their flights to be shared for privacy reasons. Finally, the methods by which these algorithms are trained must be ironclad, and evasive actions cannot also be prescribed in situations where immediate intervention is necessary.

As many OEMs adopt hybridized approaches to their powertrains, leveraging the best of both internal combustion and battery technology, a similar approach is likely warranted for the most successful of the aerial mobility aircraft: provisioned for future growth with capabilities that can eventually be fully autonomous, but with the option for remote or in-aircraft piloting to occur to assuage passenger concerns and to meet current regulatory requirements.

Why it’s important: As AI continues to evolve, the future of aerial mobility may evolve to leverage this technology as well. AI-driven predictive flight path monitoring may enhance safety but also paves the way for increased automation and autonomy in air travel, if implemented gradually and successful. The runway to AI integration into aviation is a long one, but slow incremental steps will yield benefit.

In a new collaboration, Skyports Drone Services, a drone logistics, survey, and monitoring operations company, has teamed up with Norwegian energy company Equinor to lead a new project in the aerial mobility sector. This partnership aims to improve cargo logistics for offshore oil installations in the North Sea, setting a new standard for efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

The project, which commenced in early September, is the first-ever daily, on-demand drone delivery service initiated from shore to offshore oil rigs and uses highly automated cargo drones developed by Swoop Aero. The drones can cover distances of up to 114 kilometers and are currently shuttling cargo between Equinor’s Mongstad processing center on the west coast of Norway and three installations in the Gullfaks oil field.

Skyports Drone Services has conducted numerous flights with hundreds more planned throughout the two-month trial. These flights are transporting a diverse range of cargo; from spare parts and equipment to care packages, showcasing the versatility of drone logistics.

One of the most notable advantages of uncrewed drone services is their cost-efficiency, speed of deployment, and enhanced safety compared to traditional transportation methods. These drones can operate in challenging visibility conditions, including fog, pending regulatory approvals – a development that holds immense promise for the aerial mobility industry.

Moreover, the environmental benefits of electric drones is an important consideration for this operation as well. With zero operating emissions, they are a profound leap toward sustainability in the offshore sector.

The trial also highlights the potential for scaling drone services with minimal human intervention. Remote piloting by a small Skyports Drone Services team from Equinor’s ROC in Bergen ensures seamless operations. Equinor staff on the installations have received training to handle cargo, batteries, and drone interactions, underlining the adaptability of the system.

Initial results of the trial have been positive, paving the way for potential expansion to additional installations, thus shaping the future of aerial mobility in the offshore energy sector.

Alex Brown, Director of Skyports Drone Services, emphasized the project’s significance: “This project with Equinor proves that drone delivery can offer a safer, cost-effective, more sustainable alternative to conventional transport methods in offshore environments. We are currently exploring how we can expand this groundbreaking work into adjacent sectors such as offshore wind and ship resupply.”

The project’s success has been made possible through collaboration with Avinor and the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway, ensuring the necessary flight permissions are secured.

Why it’s important: The partnership between Skyports Drone Services and Equinor signifies a turning point in the aerial mobility industry. The collaboration showcases how electric drones can revolutionize cargo logistics, bringing new levels of efficiency, safety, and sustainability to offshore operations. As the trial continues to flourish, it opens doors for further innovation and exploration of aerial mobility solutions in adjacent sectors, ultimately helping to shape the future of logistics in challenging environments.

Japanese-based eVTOL maker, SkyDrive, has announced an MOU with Solyu, an aircraft leasing company in Korea, for 50 eVTOL aircraft. Solyu is a lessor based in Korea run by team with decades of experience in the aircraft leasing and finance industry with a focus on providing customers with zero emissions vehicles such as eVTOL, eCTOL, and eSTOL.

SkyDrive is currently developing a three-seat electric, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft called “SKYDRIVE.” Its eVTOL is in the process of acquiring its Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) certification.

In Korea, the metropolitan area faces a problem of severe traffic congestion, and the Korean government formed the Korea Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM) Roadmap, expecting that the time and social costs can be reduced by 70%. The government also promotes the plan for public-private joint demonstration project, the K-UAM Grand Challenge. Solyu believes it is important to promote the use of electric, zero-emission vehicles in Korea to accelerate the K-UAM goal and agreed on the pre-order of SkyDrive eVTOL.

SkyDrive and Solyu continue to evaluate commercial eVTOL considerations such as vertiports, routes, infrastructure requirements, and ecosystems with the Korean government and other interested stakeholders to launch new mobility solutions in Korea.

Solyu Company President, Andrew Claerbout, commented on the memorandum of understanding, “The eVTOL market will bring opportunities for reducing global emissions and increasing traveler convenience. We’re honored to work with SkyDrive and the award-winning SD-05 to develop this global market.”

Why it’s important: Korea is one of the most dense urban markets in the world and is a prime market for the eVTOL industry. With a fleet of 50 SkyDrive eVTOL aircraft, Solyu has an opportunity to leverage electrified aviation and offer low-cost, emission free travel in the area.