Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 36.98
…Ltd., which develops electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL, aerial vehicles and drones, today said that it has closed its acquisition of Horizon Aircraft Inc. The companies said the transaction will enable them to offer a complete product line across commercial and industrial applications, combining access to capital with industry experience. Horizon Aircraft claimed that it has developed the world's first eVTOL that can fly most of its mission like a normal aircraft while offering industry-leading speed, range, and operational utility. The Lindsay, Ontario-based company said its Cavorite X5 eVTOL is designed to enter the market quickly and service…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 34.61
…flight of an autonomous all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed for passenger use in the U.S. Wisk logs numerous AAM test flights Wisk said it has expertise in autonomous, electric flight, including insights from the development of five generations of aircraft over the past decade. The company, which also has offices in New Zealand, said it has conducted more than 1,500 test flights. Self-flying eVTOL flights will enable passengers to skip over terrestrial traffic and get to their destinations faster, said Wisk. It added that it intends to operate one of the industry's largest AAM fleets within five…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 33.98
…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 VoloDrone stay ahead of the curve with autonomous capabilities.” “Volocopter’s track record, unique safety design, and vision have established…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 31.09
…the first end-to-end, autonomous electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aerial cargo system, the Chapparal. It has been working with FedEx since 2020. FedEx Express said it plans to test Elroy Air’s technology within the company’s middle-mile logistics operations, moving shipments between sortation locations. The companies plan to begin test flighting by 2023, after receiving the proper certifications. Elroy Air unveiled its pre-production Chaparral autonomous aircraft in January 2022. The company said the eVTOL cargo system can autonomously pick up 300 to 500 lb. of cargo and deliver it by air up to 300 mi. The Chaparral is capable of…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 23.89
…the first and only electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company to receive Design Organization Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Volocopter said it has committed to launching commercial air taxi services in cities such as Singapore, Rome, and Paris. The company also announced that Dirk Hoke, former CEO of Airbus Defence & Space, will be its CEO and managing director, starting in September. Investors provide fuel for air taxi takeoff WP Investment led Volocopter's Series E round, which brings its pre-money valuation to $1.7 billion. New investors such as Honeywell and existing ones, like Atlantia,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 21.16
…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 over 1,500 successful test flights. The company claimed that it is the first eVTOL company to receive Design Organisation Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). With an ecosystem approach that connects key global players in the emerging UAM market, Volocopter said it has developed multipurpose electric aircraft and the supporting physical and digital infrastructure. VoloCity is its air taxi service, VoloRegion is its…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 19.12
…The Volocopter vehicle is an electric, vertical take-off multicopter (eVTOL) with 18 rotors that can hold two passengers for a 30km flight. The first manned flight of the Volocopter. The company has tested the aircraft in Dubai, and plans to conduct similar tests in Singapore later this year. Image courtesy of Volocopter. Volocopter Design Challenges According to company co-founder Alex Zosel, Volocopter spent roughly 10 months confirming that manned, electrical vertical flight was possible prior to the first manned flight in 2011. “We needed to improve various parts that were not available on the market at high enough efficiency such…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 17.85
…“We’re excited to partner with Uber in accelerating the eVTOL initiative” John Langford, CEO, Aurora Uber is also working with NASA, the FAA, and the National Air Traffic Control Association to work on a different approach to air traffic control. Flying Cars Building out the infrastructure is just one part of the puzzle. The other roadblock is perfecting an all-electric VTOL plane that is quiet enough that it could be used to bring people from the cities to the suburbs, or even across cities, in a short amount of time. Uber, for now, has decided not to build its own…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 15.80
…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 is expanding and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 14.70
…in air mobility, including electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, leading to mass production by 2028, it reported. “[The plan to unveil a new robot in 2024] is one of the many robotics research and development efforts that Hyundai Motor Group is currently working on,” said a Hyundai Motor Group official. “We are working on developing various types of robots. But nothing has been confirmed about next year.” Kia has set sustainability goals of increasing production of electric vehicles (EVs) to 52% of its total in key markets by 2030, building lower-emission vehicles, and implementing 100% renewable energy usage…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 13.31
…company has partnered with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) passenger and cargo vehicle manufacturers to enable safe and efficient flight operations within urban and suburban environments. Avtrain certifies drone pilots and operators for all fixed-wing, hybrid, and single and multi-rotor drones in all weight categories in Ireland. Shannon Group is a company looking to build business opportunities in aviation, property, and tourism. FMCI is a nonprofit organization intended to stimulate research and development of mobility as a service (MaaS). Focus areas include smart city infrastructure, connected autonomous vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), big data management and analytics. Demonstration…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 12.12
…Joby Aviation is developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Toyota Ventures expands scope Toyota Ventures said it will expand its scope to include smart cities, digital health, financial technologies, materials, and energy. The Toyota Ventures Frontier Fund will also continue to focus on AI, robotics, the cloud, and other technologies. “The Toyota Ventures organization is the perfect example of an entrepreneur-centric, empathetic, thoroughly professional and success-driven team,” said RK Anand, co-founder and CEO of Recogni, a vision recognition provider in San Jose, Calif. Meanwhile, the Toyota Ventures Climate Fund will focus on efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions…