Important Innovations Collection

World's 1st Drone Cleared for Heavy Cargo Trials Source:  Ehang 216 Booming Drone Business China's Ehang is the world's 1st autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) & eVTOL company approved to perform commercial trials of carrying heavy cargo in its passenger drones.  The pilotless Ehang 216 drones can carry two passengers, go up to 80 mph and travel a distance of 19 miles. It's now the first drone company in the world that is cleared to perform a series of trial tests with the drone carrying cargo loads of  330 pounds and more. Global Market Size Ehang founder and CEO Hu Huazi says the Chinese regulatory authority's clearance will accelerate the commercialization of  AAV/eVTOL technology and air mobility solutions for logistics. He adds it's a foundation for the world to establish a coordinated and sustainable regulatory environment.  The global market potential for eVTOLs is huge.  Morgan Stanley estimates it at $1.5 Trillion by 2040.  3...

CEO Says Fleets of Electric Air Taxis To Be Deployed in 2022 Source:  Volocopter Electric VTOL Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter says fleets of Volocopter air taxis will be flying in 2022.  The flying taxi is the world's 1st, manned, fully electric VTOL (vertical landing and takeoff vehicle).  It's fully sustainable, drone like technology that has been successfully flown in demonstrations in a number of global cities.  Volocopter is headquartered in Germany.  Reuter made the announcement in Davos during the 2020 World Economic Forum. 100% Electric with Zero Emissions and VoloPorts According to Volocopter, their air taxi meets international certifications to be as safe as an airliner.  It's 100% electric powered and emissions free.  The drone like VTOL can carry two passengers.  And, it's quiet with the 18 electric powered rotors on one level.  Volocopter has a whole ecosystem to support their air taxis.  Specifically V...

Hyundai's S-A1 Air Taxi: Uber-Hyundai Partnership Source:  Hyundai at CES 2020 Your Next Taxi Ride South Korean automaker Hyundai has created a full-scale prototype air-taxi, the S-A1.  It's a VTOL 4 seater.  And in a gamechanging innovation move, they're teaming-up with the ride sharing service Uber to take this air taxi into the skies during the 2020's.  It will be part of Uber's aerial rideshare service, Uber Air.  The target date for Hyundai to start production on the flying taxi is 2028. The S-A1 was unveiled this week at the CES 2020 in Las Vegas and was cited as one of the biggest innovations of the year. Uber Air Taxi Service With the Hyundai S-A1, Uber Air will work like Uber cars with the added value of an air taxi over traffic. With a push of a button on your phone, a car will pick you up.  It will take you to a skyport where a vertical air mobile vehicle will fly you to your next destination.  You'll then hop i...

First International Flight Test & Collaboration with AT&T on Connectivity Announced Source:  Uber Test Flights in Three Global Cities 2020 Uber is on a roll. It just announced a collaboration with AT&T to enhance connectivity on its air taxi and cargo drone vehicles.  And it's selected Australia's second largest city, Melbourne, as the first international test site for its air taxi service.  The test flights will start in 2020 in Melbourne, along with test flights in previously announced Dallas and Los Angeles.  The test flight service will link central city locations with nearby airports. Commercial Launch 2023 The Uber air taxi fleet is electric powered and can be ordered on demand by customers through smartphone apps.  The fleet will have vertical takeoff, vertical landing and rapid horizontal flight.  The electric powered vehicles are part helicopter, part drone and part fixed wing aircraft with multiple small rotors....

 Lilium's Great Maiden Flight Source:  Lilium Artist Rendering Source:  Lilium  Jet 5 Seat Electric Air Taxi for Short Distances German air taxi startup Lilium hopes to put its 5 seat prototype into service by 2025.  It will fly passengers between cities without any airport check-ins.  The aircraft has strong financial backing and its maiden flight at a Munich airfield went well.  It took off vertically and then hovered over the field. All-Electric, Remote Controlled Lilium is the company's template for mass production.  The jet is for short distance travel.  Its batteries power 36 all-electric jet engines that point downward when the jet takeoffs and then swing upward to power the flight.  It can fly up to 186 mph.  And it is remotely controlled right now. Next Steps It took the company just two years to design, build and successfully test Lilium.  It now has to win certification from European and also U....

Bell Nexus - Flying Over Congested Cities Source:  Bell Helicopters' Nexus Air Taxi Full Size Model - Bell Nexus For Flight The Bell Nexus is one of the prototype air taxi models targeted to fly by 2025 in big cities.  The potential is significant.  Air mobility enables you to fly over gridlocked traffic congestion.  Bell debuted at CES 2019 a spectacular vehicle capable of flying 4 passengers and a safety pilot, now at a speed capable of 150 mph for a distance of 150 miles. But they are developing it further for more distance and speed. Watching This Develop Bell executives are pushing and developing this new mode of aerial taxi transit. They are committed to delivering it by 2025.  This innovation in urban travel could have great impact on you.  Nexus is  green with six hybrid electric powered, duct fans powering the aerial taxi. It could be picking you up to let you fly over the traffic very soon.  To see more of my news blogs on in...

Bell Nexus:  In a Flying Class of Its Own Source:  Bell Helicopter New Meaning to Hailing a Flying Taxi Bell has unveiled an air taxi of the not so distant future - the extraordinary Bell Nexus. Bell has teamed with Uber as a partner on this innovation.  It's a fully complete model of a functional air taxi VTOL with vertical takeoff and landing capability.  Uber will deploy it as part of its ride sharing operations. Technology and Rollout The Bell Nexus is powered by a hybrid-electric propulsion system and uses 6 tilting fans to takeoff.  They plan for demonstration flights in 2020 and commercial aerial ridesharing for short, local trips in 2023.  Reports indicate the VTOL can carry 4 passengers and provide capabilities for conference calls, news broadcasting and document sharing support.  Sounds like the taxi ride of a lifetime! For more news stories on innovation, go to  amazon.com/author/ekane