Results for: airspeeder

Airspeeder announced last week that Gary Gysin will be joining their Board. Gary brings a wealth of experience and expertise to further drive the advancement of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology and autonomous flight.

Gary most recently was the founding CEO of Wisk Aero, a joint venture between the Boeing Company and Larry Page’s Kittyhawk. Prior to Gary’s retirement in February of 2023, Gysin built Wisk into the market-leading self-flying, all-electric, 4-seat air taxi, created the executive and development leadership teams, set the strategic targets for the company, including the entry into service timing and city roll-out, launched the company’s commercial type certified aircraft development program, and closed over $450M in new financing capital.  Wisk recently became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Boeing Company.

Airspeeder is poised to advance aerial mobility through flying car racing. In bringing together cutting-edge technology, high-performance electric aircraft, and thrilling racing experiences, Airspeeder aims to accelerate the development of eVTOL technology and inspire the next generation of aviators and engineers.

Airspeeder and Alauda Aeronautics operate on a global scale with a technical HQ in Adelaide, South Australia, strategically positioned in close proximity to ideal testing grounds for a groundbreaking form of aerial mobility. The sports commercial, communications, and administrative headquarters are based in London, England, led by Airspeeder’s Co-founder, Jack Withinshaw. This London location provides Airspeeder with direct access to leaders in motorsport, rights management, and regulatory matters.

Why it’s important: Airspeeder’s mission of application of advanced racing technologies first to an eVTOL racing series and then following to the aerial mobility industry allows for more experience to inform design advances in a controlled, safe, and innovative environment. Gary Gysin has shared that he has substantial interest in Formula 1 Racing, a model for the proposed Airspeeder Racing League.

Celeros, the next generation of mixed-reality games, has been announced and plans to include a premier racing experience as well as create real-world professional pathways.

Through ‘Play2Impact’, developed by media and entertainment company and Celeros creator and owner, Saltwater Games, players in Celeros will be able to compete to earn in-game digital assets which they can use in a host of ways, including investing in realworld causes.

With 3.24bn active gamers around the world, Play2Impact has the potential to drive real change. Through an official partnership with Airspeeder, the world’s first crewed racing eVTOL series, AirspeederXR will be the first race series to take part in Celeros, and will be a game brought to fruition by developers of titles such as Gran Turismo, WipEout, and Need for Speed, to ensure a dynamic and authentic racing experience.

Len Findlay, CEO of Saltwater Games, said: “We’re dedicated to creating a worldleading gaming experience that combines modern and future motorsport with an innovative game economy that supports real-world environmental projects. We’re using the latest technology to build a community where gamers can come together to race and learn, all while making a positive impact on our planet. With Celeros, players will be able to enjoy the excitement of competitive mixed-reality racing while also engaging in Play2Impact, a groundbreaking initiative that allows gamers and partners alike to make a real difference in the lives of millions of people.”

Matt Pearson, CEO of Airspeeder, said: “Celeros will push the envelope of what is achievable when gamers come together, revolutionizing impact through gameplay. The first doors into the world of Celeros are now open and we’re inviting people to take part in a new pilot academy to learn more about the AirspeederXR Race Series and the vehicles they will be able to fly.”

Celeros is set in the near future at the dawn of a new golden age for humankind. It will include a multiplayer racing experience, augmented by real-world physics data, and will allow racing and flying enthusiasts the opportunity to learn, race, configure their speeder, and hone their skills with a chance to become a real pilot when Airspeeder launches its crewed racing series this year.

Why it’s important: Airspeeder’s inclusion in Celeros represents an opportunity for increased exposure of aerial mobility companies to a new and diverse audience as well as a way to develop personal connections and excitement toward these new types of technology. Further, licensing revenues from the agreement should also help propel Airspeeder forward as they continue to work toward launching their crewed racing series this year. And finally, the launch of Celeros includes an online academy that helps educate participants about Collision Avoidance Systems and Airspeeder/eVTOL technologies.

Intel confirmed today that they intend to join Airspeeder as their new Official Intelligence Partner in a strategic sponsorship agreement to provide end-to-end systems support and insights to help power the world’s first flying electric car racing series. The announcement coincides with public unveiling of the new Mk4 Airspeeder at Adelaide’s Motorsport Festival and will bring the global tech giant’s computing technologies to flying car racing.

As the Airspeeder Series’ Official Intelligence Partner, Intel’s Core and Xeon Scalable processors will help shape the sport to maximize its appeal to racers and fans alike. The new strategic sponsorship deal was revealed in a joint presentation at the Motorsport Show in Adelaide on March 25th, where Adelaide-based Alauda unveiled its new Mk4 Airspeeder – the first-ever piloted craft to take part in the Airspeeder race series.

“We’re incredibly excited to have Intel on board. The technology, insight and innovation it’s bringing to Airspeeder will transform our racing series, making it even more immersive and dynamic for pilots and spectacular for our audiences. Just as importantly, Intel’s ‘pervasive connectivity’ perfectly matches our vision of an always-connected, vertical-enabled future. Through the actionable insights provided by AI, we can achieve next-level eVTOL performance and control, which we see as the key to unlocking the future of private air mobility.” – Matt Pearson, CEO, Alauda Aeronautics.

“This is another example of Intel continuing to deliver the compute power needed to stretch the notion of what’s possible, make what was once science fiction a reality, and transform the way we live our lives. Helping Airspeeder bring this new concept to life has the potential to not only change the way we race, but also opens up endless possibilities in urban mobility.”- Andrew McLean, Managing Director ANZ, Intel.

Why it’s important: The partnership between Airspeeder and Intel will help to enhance the IT infrastructure and technological support network of Airspeeder as they work to bring their flying car racing series to a larger scale. Further, the announcement also is one of the first IT partnerships within the aerial mobility industry, offering Intel the chance to gain insights into the types of data that are collected and offloaded from unmanned aerial mobility systems along with the operational constraints and concerns of the industry. Potentially, lessons learned from Intel’s partnership with Airspeeder could eventually expand beyond just that of the flying car racing industry and into the general aerial mobility sphere.

Airspeeder completed a first for motorsport and for the developing aerial mobility industry in the salt flats of South Australia last week via completion of their first head-to-head airspeeder eVTOL race.

Pilot Zephatiali Walsh beat fellow competitor Fabio Tishcler in a closely contested inaugural EXA race. The aircraft were remotely piloted, and this was the first time two pilots were given license to race their 4.1m long eVTOL’s in a fully competitive remote race setting.

Airspeeder instituted a number of technologies to enable and operationalize this race, including race control stations, pilot control stations, 5G networks, Augmented Reality (AR) Sky Tracks, and engineering and team control stations. Many of these functions are similar to that of the higher echelons of motor racing, however have been adapted for use in a modified, aerial racing format.

Airspeeder also focused on rule development and safety management, using a system of logistics and race management protocols as a groundwork for future, more complicated races with additional aircraft.

Why it’s important: Airspeeder’s overall development goal is similar to that of Formula 1 racing: to permeate technological advancements from competitive motor racing into general public use technology. As Airspeeder furthers the speed, controllability, and operational ease of their EXA eVTOLs, those same advancements are intended to someday transition to passenger-carrying eVTOLs at larger scale. Further, creating fanfare behind eVTOLs could facilitate and expedite public acceptance of commercial air taxi operations in the nearer term.

Aerial Formula One Racing style company Airspeeder announced their first eVTOL racing pilots which will participate in the EXA racing series, supported by Telstra & AWS on Tuesday.

The announcement came after a historic drag race. The competitors were drawn from backgrounds as broad as elite motor racing and drone racing: 

Emily Duggan joins as Australia’s most successful female racing driver, Zephatali Walsh joins from the Drone Champions League, and Fabio Tischler has captured dynamic FPV content for the world’s leading brands including GoPro, Red Bull and Toyota .

Airspeed mentioned that the first EXA remotely piloted races are scheduled to take place in 2022.

Airspeeder’s eVTOL racing aircraft will soon take place in a series of ground-braking races named the EXA Series. These historic first electric flying car Grand Prix will be competed by the world’s best Speeder pilots and the EXA series will serve as the permanent development formula for the forthcoming Airspeeder crewed electric flying car races.

Why it’s important: The first iteration of piloted eVTOL races for Airspeeder has been years in the making. With this new announcement, the company is launching into their MVP concept for Formula One style aerial racing, leveraging the talents of drivers from different backgrounds. Further, the EXA racing series provides a platform for Airspeeder to showcase their technological developments in the aerial mobility space, and hopefully flow forward some innovations toward both Aerial Mobility spaces and transportation in general, similar to how Formula 1 was largely responsible for many of the safety features in modern-day road vehicles.

Airspeeder, the company famous for developing ‘flying race cars’ that are single-seater quadcopters inspired by Formula One vehicles, has released footage of two of its prototype aircraft in a remotely piloted drag race. The flight demonstrated the competitive capabilities of these lightweight aircraft, and gave the world a sampling what full-scale Airspeeder races will soon look like.

Airspeeder has been working on its vision for eVTOL races sine 2016, and since then the company has been edging ever closer to conducting the world’s first high-speed, piloted, eVTOL races. Last year, the company unveiled its MK3 Airspeeder racing aircraft, capable of flying at speeds over 90mph (which it did in this race). It uses a 96 kW electric powertrain that gives the MK3 a thrust to weight ratio above two, with the entire vehicle only weighing (220 lb) unmanned, and is controlled by a joystick.

The company Airspeeder, which aims to become the world’s first ‘flying car’ racing series, is built on the idea that “Nothing accelerates technological progress like sporting competition”. According to founders of the team, Airspeeder hopes to use the technology developed in its competitive race series to push forward performance and safety in the entire eVTOL industry, while at the same time using publicity of the races to encourage public acceptance of these new types of vehicles. Founders at Airspeeder believe deeply in the power of electric vertical flight to transform society, and hope that its aircraft and aerial motorsport will give the world a push in that direction.

Watch the unveiling video of the Airspeeder MK3 aircraft from last May below:

Why it’s important: In May of this year, Airspeeder claimed that it would begin remotely piloted, competitive races between teams starting in late 2021. This drag race completed that milestone, and according to the company, manned races will begin starting sometime in 2022. With this drag race event, Airspeeder has shown that it is able to stick to its timeline, and therefore it is becoming more and more likely that Airspeeder next year will become the very first flying race car series in the world.

Source // Airspeeder

Related:

• Airspeeder Initial Flying Car Races Set For Later This Year (May 2021)
• Airspeeder MK3: World’s First Electric Flying Racing Car (February 2021)
• A Trade Study in Endurance and Performance: Airspeeder’s Battery Configuration (December 2020)

As it nears ever closer to developing the electric flying car races of the future, Airspeeder has announced that unmanned races of its MK3 prototype vehicle will take place later this year.

Airspeeder’s MK4 electric ‘flying race car’.

For several years, Airspeeder has had a vision for creating the ‘Formula 1 of the skies’; seeking to create a high-performance eVTOL aircraft accompanied with a series of grand prix events to bring on the new age of vertical flight and aerial mobility. According to the company, it hopes that their vehicles will do for eVTOL what auto racing did for the auto industry – push the boundries of engineering in efficiency, performance, and safety to their highest levels, and add excitement to the world of vertical flight to the public eye.

Alauda is now working on finalizing the MK4, the 4th and highest performance version of its single-seater eVTOL air vehicle. Billed as, ‘The world’s first electric flying race car’ The MK4 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.3 seconds (faster than a Tesla Model S or Lamborghini Huracan) and fly at race speeds of 160 km/h at up to 20 minutes per battery (Batteries will be quickly swappable in rapid pit stops).

The initial unmanned remotely-piloted races later this year will set the stage and provide format for the manned races that are scheduled to begin in 2022. Although these races will feature the MK3 rather than the MK4, the MK3 still boasts incredibly impressive stats. Empty weights of aircraft are 287 lbs, and race speeds will still reach over 120km/h at heights between 40 and 200ft above ground. Races will take place in remote locations with up to 10 Airspeeders flying in close proximity, protected by Acronis’ ‘digital force fields‘ that will prevent collisions. Racers can pass around or under other Airspeeders for what will likely be very thrilling aerial action.

Watch the original reveal video for the MK3 racer below:

Why it’s important: As the age of eVTOL aerial mobility draws nearer, Airspeeder’s grand prix series will give this technology a chance to be pushed to the limit, in order to both experiment with what eVTOL can do, and to increase performance statistics for these aircraft. By utilizing effective software to keep pilots safe, Airspeeder will also both increase excitement about this technology and prove its safety. With unmanned races coming soon, the stage is set for a successful and exciting future of aerial racing.

Airspeeder has added to its leadership expertise with four key hires in its technical and engineering teams. Airspeeder is the first purpose built eVTOL for racing with its developmental prototype, the Airspeeder Mk3. Races are expected to begin later this year.

Judith Griggs joins as the Global Rights Acquisition and Management Lead and brings 27 years of experience in Formula 1 and experience as the CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. She hopes to apply her experiences in F1 to realise the potential of electric flying car racing. “The opportunity to help Airspeeder and Alauda shape the world’s first racing series for flying electric cars is irresistible. Airspeeder has the potential to be the most progressive and exciting new entity in sport. It is racing with global vision and authentic technical purpose and I am excited to work with Matt and the team to deliver on this potential through building exceptional relationships with commercial entities and racing bodies.”

Brett Hill will lead the engineering teams developing the Airspeeder Mk3 and Mk4 as the Technical Project Manager. Hill brings key technical leadership expereience from Boeing where he led engineering teams on the 747-8 and 787 programs.

Matt Rodgers joins as the Head of Composites and has experience from Vertical Aerospace as well as racing experience from Williams, Renault F1 and Formula E.

The final hire adds David Wareing as a Lead Systems Engineer. Wareing brings a wealth of knowledge in racing technology and hyper car vehicle systems at McLaren. His systems-based approach to powertrain development and multi-layer redundant architecture maximizes performance of the Airspeeder prototypes.

Commenting on the new appointments, Airspeeder CEO, Matt Pearson said: “Our vision is to accelerate a mobility revolution through intense and safe sporting competition. We know that true innovation requires the world’s best talent to deliver. Attracting exceptional minds drawn from the very highest levels of motoracing, automotive engineering, aerospace and the rapidly emerging eVTOL space will add to an extraordinarily capable team of senior engineers and technical experts that have just delivered the world’s first fully-functional remotely piloted electric flying racing car.”

Why it matters: Airspeeder’s key appointments in various engineering and developmental roles will position itself to identify the market for the future of flying car racing platforms and bring a racing vehicle to market. Airspeeder is one of the few purpose-built racing vehicles in the aerial mobility space and Airspeeder has an opportunity to create a whole new genre in the racing world.

Alauda has unveiled the Airspeeder MK3, a full-sized remotely-operated electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle designed for racing. The first of its kind, the MK3 is set to be showcased in an upcoming racing series that will serve as a technical test-bed and “feeder series” to the manned series in 2022. Currently, a full grid of MK3 models are being manufactured at Airspeeder and Alauda’s HQ in Adelaide, South Australia, and over 10 models will be provided to teams in 2021. 

The MK3
Photograph: Airpseeder

Final pre-season tests will be conducted behind closed doors in Australia before the start of an international racing calendar, where the initial MK3 races will provide crucial data on vehicle dynamics, performance, safety, and powertrain technology that will aid in the development of the Airspeeder MK4, the manned version. The MK3 will be operated remotely from the ground for all flights. 

The MK3 is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 120 kph (75 mph) in flight, and features LiDAR and Radar collision avoidance systems that create a ‘virtual forcefield’ around the craft. Safety features also include a carbon fiber frame and fuselage designed for maneuverability, performance, and efficiency. According to Alauda, “The powertrain represents a significant upgrade on the Mk2 proof of concept vehicle, with power increased by 95% with only a 50% increase in weight.” The MK3 possesses a 96 kW electric powertrain that gives the MK3 a thrust to weight ratio above two, and the entire vehicle only weighs 100 kg (220 lb) unmanned. 

The MK3 is laid out in an ‘octocopter X formation’, which according to Alauda, will provide significant advantages to a pilot when the MK4 is released. When racing, a pilot in the MK series speeder will be able to make the same sharp “hairpin style” turns as a Formula 1 car on top of being able to move in the vertical direction. Furthermore, Alauda’s engineers have developed a ‘slide and lock’ battery system facilitating rapid removal and insertion of batteries, allowing for rapid pit stops.

The MK3 Photograph: Airpseeder

Why it’s important: As well as being the first vehicle of its kind, the MK3 speeder, the first aerial mobility vehicle designed for racing purposes, shows the overall growth of the aerial mobility industry. The industry continues to improve, not only in transportation but in the development of other related sectors as well.

Source // Alauda Press Release

In many cases, the degree of quality for battery performance in aviation equates to endurance: how long a given energy source can power an aircraft. In the aerial mobility industry, a large amount of focus is being directed towards increasing endurance times for energy sources, often by maximizing the efficiency of energy use per unit of time.

Often, endurance and performance are highly related. Australian Flying Car Racing development company Alauda is designing a battery system that identifies performance as the primary design constraint, in lieu of endurance, to allow for their prototype F1 style flying car racing aircraft to perform at the highest levels during the company’s self-created racing series. The result has been solutions that will improve both performance and endurance: Alauda’s design will enable its Airspeeder flying race cars to identify and optimize their battery systems for both performance output (power) and recharge times, and features a modifiable battery system that can be altered per mission requirements.

While the inner workings of the Airspeeder’s battery composition remain proprietary, the battery packs are modular, employing a sliding rail system that locks cells together and to the aircraft’s frame when installed. (Such a design allows for virtually instant “recharge” times, as depleted batteries are replaced by fully charged cells in lieu of being constantly recharged.) The modular system also allows for customization based upon flight leg – when a race or aerial mobility flight doesn’t span hundreds of miles, a smaller sized battery array (i.e. installation of less cells) could allow for a substantial weight reduction, resulting in performance or useful load increases. This option emphasizes the benefits of a flexible design architecture. For example, this same technology could be applied to cargo eVTOLs to increase payload capacity, range, or speed capabilities depending on the mission.

Alauda has underscored that their goal is to advance flight technology in the same way Formula 1 racing technology advanced the automotive industry – by applying cutting edge innovation to racing and allowing for that technology to mature and make its way to commercial applications.

Mock-up an the Aluada Airspeeder in flight

Why it’s important: Optimization of the propulsion system of eVTOLs and aerial mobility aircraft will be one of the most likely contenders for sustained performance improvements following initial certification of eVTOL aircraft for commercial use. Designs like Alauda’s Airspeeder give insight into what propulsion characteristics will be most important when developing and advancing new air vehicles.

Australian startup Airspeeder has been working on building an eVTOL ‘flying race car’ for several years. Now, after gaining many rounds of funding, several partnerships, and constructing multiple prototypes, the company is nearing completion of its full-scale air racer.

The completed ‘Alauda MK4’ will be a single-seater, lightweight, manned racing aircraft capable of flying at speeds up to 130km/h (80mph), up to 12 minutes per swappable battery. Airspeeder’s goal is to build momentum for the world of eVTOL by creating a high-speed racing grand prix series with its aircraft. Alauda MK4s will be equipped with Acronis cybersecurity software, which will allow for near-field head to head racing while preventing collisions.

In its latest developments, Airspeeder has hired Aaron Mourney, a new workshop technician, and Mitch Bannink as Chief Remote Pilot. The hiring of Bannink is particularly significant, as it indicates that Airspeeder is reaching the flight testing stage for the MK4. Airspeeder has already picked locations for its first air races, hoping to begin races as early as next year, and has even begun to seek out pilots to participate from backgrounds in military, civil UAV, motorsports and even E-Sports.

Airspeeder’s MK4 racer in the hangar

Why it’s important: Airspeeder is calling its MK4 aircraft the ‘Formula 1 of the skies’; as the intention of the air race series is push forward the industry of sustainable electric flight. The ultimate goal of Airspeeder is to make ‘flying cars’ a reality sooner rather than later, through the medium of motorsport, just as auto motorsport encouraged the development of affordable and accessible auto transport.

Airspeeder, an Australian startup that makes a single-seater racing quadcopter, has officially partnered with leading cyber protection firm Acronis for both technical and commercial support in upcoming air races.

Airspeeder, founded by entrepreneur Matt Pearson, has the vision of creating the world’s first electric flying car racing series using its MK4 racers. The company has been working towards this goal for multiple years, and hopes to host the first Airspeeder Grand Prix in 2021. Notably, the company has already received backing from several major investors, including DHL and investment firm Equals.

Rendering of an Airspeeder MK4 in flight

Acronis, a global leader in data solutions and cyber security, will ensure the data security for the LiDAR and Machine Vision technology that will deliver safe close-distance racing. Essentially, ‘virtual force-fields’ will be created around each aircraft to ensure safety against collisions, and Acronis will ensure that these systems remain secure. Acronis will also help to help manage the massive amount of data involved in the air races that will help improve performance and safety in many areas. The partnership with Acronis is especially strategic since Acronis already has experience in data management and security for Formula One auto racing.

“Acronis’ place at the leading edge of innovation in data management perfectly aligns with Alauda and Airspeeder’s vision to accelerate a mobility revolution through close sporting competition. Our proven, integrated approach to providing easy, efficient, reliable and secure cyber protection for all data, applications and systems, will help Airspeeder to enhance their performance on the air track and in the back office. We look forward to delivering on the promise of a true next generation technical and sporting proposition.”  – Jan-Jaap Jager, the Board Advisor and Senior Vice President at Acronis.

Why it’s important: According to Airspeeder, its big-picture mission is to help accelerate the progress of eVTOL technology as a whole through racing competitions. It hopes that introducing this technology to the world in a racing context will accelerate both public acceptance and technological advancement, ‘hasting the arrival of eVTOL aircraft as a means of zero-emission aerial transportation’. This latest partnership with Acronis is especially significant as it adds an extra layer of validity to the upcoming future of air racing.

Related:

• Alauda Plans to Race Two Airspeeder Flying Cars in South Australia
• Alauda Airspeeder Flies at Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Drone Champions AG Flies Aerobatics with a Manned Racing Drone