Multiple Aircraft Manufacturers Will Work On Developing Electric VTOL Aircraft Concept

Uber has a vision that in the not-too-distant future, a network of electric-powered VTOL flying people movers will be ferrying passengers at speeds up to 175 miles per hour to urban destinations.

The company announced several partnerships on the opening day of the Uber Elevate Summit held in Dallas, TX, one of two cities that have signed on as partners for the demonstration program. Dubai is the other location.

Business Insider reports that the first five aircraft partners are Pipistrel Aircraft; Embraer; Mooney Aircraft, which will work in conjunction with Carter Aviation; Aurora Flight Sciences, and; Bell Helicopter. Initial flight demonstrations are planned for 2020.

“Uber is excited to have Pipistrel working with us and starting to develop VTOLs for Uber Elevate," said Mark Moore, Director of Engineering for Aviation for Uber. "Pipistrel is the only company in the world that builds and sells electric aircraft today. With brand new factory to increase their capacity, they are a valued partner in making Uber’s VTOL network a reality.”

I am proud and excited that Uber recognized our values, expertise and leadership in electric flight. This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards entirely new ways we travel, not only saving time but also being friendly to the environment," said Ivo Boscarol, Pipistrel group CEO.

“Uber’s Elevate network is an exciting opportunity for Bell Helicopter to help transform how cities move people and products in the future. While creating a real, viable urban air taxi network isn’t going to happen tomorrow, this future is closer than many people realize," said Mitch Snyder, Bell Helicopter president & CEO. "We are optimistic about the positive impact VTOLs will have on addressing transportation challenges in Dallas-Fort Worth and other cities around the globe.”

Aurora's eVTOL concept (pictured)is derived from its XV-24A X-plane program currently underway for the U.S. Department of Defense and other autonomous aircraft the company has developed over the years.  Aurora has adapted and combined the autonomous flight guidance system from its Centaur optionally-piloted aircraft, the perception and collision avoidance system from the AACUS program, and the battery electric propulsion system from the XV-24A demonstrator to create the innovative eVTOL design.

"The Uber Elevate mission is all about low noise, high reliability, and low cost," said Aurora CEO John Langford. "By drawing on our nearly 30 years of successful autonomy and robotic programs, Aurora is well positioned to deliver on this urban solution. We have already built and flown the first proof-of-concept aircraft and we're excited to partner with Uber in accelerating the eVTOL initiative."

The partnership agreement provides the basis for a system of urban transportation solutions that will enable users of the Uber Elevate Network to request an Aurora eVTOL aircraft via Uber's computer or mobile software applications. With the successful first test flight of the aircraft on April 20, 2017, the goal of delivering 50 aircraft for testing by 2020 is well within reach.

Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC  has teamed up with Mooney International Corporation to participate in the initiative. The aircraft will be a 4-6 seat air taxi for the intra city market, utilizing Carter’s patented Slowed Rotor Compound (SR/C) technology for efficient hover and efficient cruise at 175 mph, and benefitting from Mooney’s extensive general aviation experience.

Carter and Mooney are confident they can meet the requirements set forth by Uber. The aircraft must be powered by all electric propulsion, be much more quiet than existing conventional VTOL aircraft, be capable of fully autonomous flight (although Uber expects to have a pilot onboard for the first several years of operation), cruise efficiently at ~175 mph, and above all else, be extremely safe.

SR/C technology uniquely addresses these requirements, Carter said in a news release. The low disc loaded single main rotor can operate at low tip speeds in hover to reduce takeoff and landing noise, and be slowed in cruise to reduce cruise noise and allow for high speed efficiency on par with a fixed wing aircraft. And with the high inertia rotor always turning, it can operate in effect as a built in parachute, but one that can be ‘deployed’ at any altitude or any airspeed, and one which allows for directional control all the way down to the ground.

“We’re excited to be working with Mooney,” stated Jay Carter, Jr., Founder and CEO of Carter Aviation. “They’re a tremendous company with a prestigious history of high performance aircraft. In fact, I used to own a Mooney M20. They bring a lot of engineering expertise and a lot of experience in developing a product to market and getting it certified. I’m looking forward to this partnership, and can’t wait to see what we can achieve.”

Embraer said in a news release that its preliminary partnership with Uber is a project generated by the Embraer Business Innovation Center, the new initiative based in Melbourne, Florida, with outposts in Silicon Valley and Boston, which was announced last month when the company revealed its intent to promote air transportation innovations.

"We firmly believe we need to explore several new business concepts that may impact air transportation in the future. This is a unique opportunity to complement the air transport knowledge of a visionary and revolutionary ground transport company. On exercising this partnership, we will be developing new technologies, new products and new business models which could generate opportunities for Embraer in the future," said Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva, Embraer's CEO.

"We share the vision that the state of transportation in congested cities is ripe for innovative solutions, such as on-demand aviation. Embraer's leadership roles in commercial and business aviation were attained through the introduction of disruptive aircraft and services, and we are confident that our DNA will add value to new concepts in urban transportation as well," said Antonio Campello, Vice President for Corporate Innovation."

(Source: Various news releases and as cited. Images provided)

FMI: www.uber.com/info/elevate/summit