Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 17.17
December 09, 2022
…fundamental helicopter technology. Last year, Near Earth partnered with Volocopter GmbH for test autonomy for the VoloDrone electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The Pittsburgh Robotics Network (PRN) member also partnered with Kajima for drone inspection of GPS-denied construction sites and with L3 Harris Technologies for drone delivery of blood and medical supplies to combat medics in the field. More recently, Near Earth partnered with aerospace company Kaman Corp. and raised more than $10 million in funding. It also integrated its technology with Kaman’s K-Max Titan helicopter to enable autonomous aerial logistics (see video below). Near Earth said it…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 54.23
November 01, 2022
…not yet be commonplace, but investors are betting on Volocopter GmbH to bring its air taxi to market with $182 million (U.S.) in the second signing of its Series E funding round. The Bruschal, Germany-based company said the financing “will carry the company beyond the certification of its electric passenger aircraft, the VoloCity air taxi.” “Sustainable mobility is a tremendous challenge facing today’s world,” said Volocopter. It said it offers fully electric, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft built specifically for urban air mobility (UAM) missions. Volocopter said it has more than 10 years of development experience and has conducted…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 58.77
March 11, 2022
Volocopter GmbH last week said it has raised an initial $170 million in its Series E funding round. The Bruchsal, Germany-based said it plans to use the financing to certify its electric, autonomous air taxi and commercially launch it in the first cities worldwide. “This funding round is a testament to Volocopter’s leading position in what is a highly attractive emerging market,” stated Florian Reuter, CEO of Volocopter. “We continue to make significant technical and commercial progress as we work toward bringing urban air mobility to life at scale in cities worldwide.” Volocopter said it is developing a new and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 52.46
May 27, 2021
Volocopter GmbH and Near Earth Autonomy Inc. today announced that they are partnering to test Near Earth Autonomy's autonomous flight technology on Volocopter's electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) VoloDrone aircraft. The companies said they will combine their expertise to advance urban air mobility (UAM) and demonstrate their progress in a beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) demonstration in Munich next year. “We are very excited to work together with the leading player in the aerial autonomy industry,” stated Christophe Hommet, chief VoloDrone engineer at Volocopter. “Near Earth Autonomy has years of experience, shown real results, and is going to help our…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 62.59
March 25, 2019
…that could ferry passengers across a city. Bruchsal, Germany-based Volocopter is currently working with Fraport AG, the entity that acts as airport manager for the Frankfurt Airport, to develop concepts for ground infrastructure and operations that would enable the use of Volocopter’s vehicles at the airport. The plan is to establish Volocopter Ports that could link urban transportation junctions with each other, and with the airport. Fraport has already tested the use of drones for operational applications via its FraDrones program. “Autonomous flying will fundamentally change aviation in the years to come. We want to be the first airport in…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 8.65
November 10, 2017
…a venture that promises “flight for all,” German start-up Volocopter has designed the 2X, a miniature helicopter with 18 rotors that will begin test flights in Dubai later this year. All of this suggests that urbanites will soon be zipping around urban airspace like George Jetson, right? Wrong! Despite big investments and bigger promises, there are physical and practical reasons why it is highly unlikely that our cities will be filled with airborne people movers anytime soon. First, let’s consider the physics. Anyone who has stood near a helicopter taking off will understand that a lot of energy is required…
