Important Innovations

  D AILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane YOUR PERSONAL 1-SEAT eVTOL                                                                          Source:  McClic MC One Monaco-based eVTOL company McClic just launched the MC One, a personal flying machine that's a coaxial octocopter It's a streamlined, easy to use, one-seater that's essentially a fuselage connected to 4 beams with 2 propellers on each beam Range:  12 to 15 minutes on a charge Top speed:  50 mph  Cost:  $150,000  Flies like a drone with a flight control system that automatically balances the electric vehicle, makes adjustments based on wind conditions & allows the pilot to enjoy the flight Can be flown after 10 minutes of training Flies at an angle up to 55-degrees Can carry a pilot up to 198 pounds Can be ordered for delivery next year. GM'S BIG ADVANTAGE:  GM CHINA DESI

   DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane RIDE OF YOUR LIFE IN YOUR PERSONAL JETSON ONE                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Source:  Jetson Called the Formula One racing car for the skies, Jetson One is a personal, electric flying machine It's an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff & landing vehicle) that seats one person & can be bought for less than $100,000 Developer Jetson Aero of Stockholm plans to take it to market by early 2024 Jetson co-founder & chief of innovation Tomasz Patan says you can learn to fly it in 5 minutes Vehicle is lightweight at 190 pounds & is made of aluminum & carbon fiber Pilot operates it with 2 joysticks:  left one for altitud

  United Airlines & Archer Aviation's Midnight Air Taxis                                               Source:  Archer Aviation 1st Route:  Newark International Airport to NYC United Airlines and Archer Aviation have just announced the first air taxi route in the United States.  The two collaborators will start air taxi service out of Newark Liberty International Airport to downtown Manhattan and then expand services to connect many other cities to their nearby airports.  The Archer air taxis are called Midnight and they are eVTOLs, which are all-electric, vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.  The air taxis will fly from Newark International to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in New York City.  Archer says their flying taxi route is a first in the US.  Bold Innovation The Mayor of New York City Eric Adams called the first route "bold innovation", and he is thrilled that the service will start in New York City.  Archer's Midnight is expected to go into service in

   4-Seat Air Taxi Going After FAA Certification                                             Source:  Wisk Aero New Form of Urban Commuting Mountain View, California-based Wisk Aero, which is financially backed by Boeing, just unveiled its 6th generation, 4-seat, autonomous air taxi.  The eVTOL is all-electric and a very sleek and smart new way to travel.  This is the design that the aerospace startup company intends to put into production and bring to market.  Wisk Aero is now seeking its FAA certification to fly passengers, along with certifications in New Zealand and elsewhere.  The company has performed more than 1600 test flights with its new air taxi.  It is clearly getting ready for take-off. Unique Autonomous Flying with Remote Human Backup The technology underpinning Wisk is highly advanced.  While the eVTOL flies autonomously without a pilot, remote human operators monitor it and are ready to take over and fly it remotely if need be.  The autonomous flying is controlled by &q

  Doroni Aerospace's H1 eVTOL                                             Source: Doroni Aerospace Parks In the Garage Miami, Florida based Doroni Aerospace has developed an electric flying car that can be piloted with just a driver's license.  The electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL) is so intuitive and smart, that it is semi-autonomous and can pilot itself.  Called the H1 eVTOL, it is also small enough to fit into a garage.  The company says the vehicle is easier to fly than a conventional small plane or helicopter.  It requires only 20 hours of flight training.  The H1 aircraft isn't a flying machine on the distant horizon.  It can be pre-ordered right now. Democratizing the Skies The company says their new vehicle, which takes off and lands vertically and is totally electric powered, will democratize flying because it is so easy to operate.  It's a semi-robotic, semi-autonomous aircraft that can seat two people, carry a 500-pound load and has wheels

  New Personal eVTOL Z2 by Zeva Aero                                                  Source:  Zeva Aero Your Next Ride to Work Tacoma, Washington based Zeva Aero's new electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle Z2 is a personal aircraft designed for personal commuting, cargo deliveries, military operations and search and rescue missions.  The vehicle has some unique capabilities including the capacity to park itself on the side of buildings so that the passengers can go in and out of the building onto the eVTOL through a window.   This is Zeva Aero's second prototype flying taxi after Zeva Aero's Zeva Zero.  Z2 is larger, faster, more efficient with bigger propellers.  This prototype should be ready for further development by the end of 2022.  Tech Specs Z2 has four rotors.  The range is 50 mph and top speed is 160 mph. The blended wing configuration of the aircraft makes it look like a flying saucer when it hovers or is flying on its side.  It tilts forward for forwar

  From Downunder, Alauda Aeronautics                                                   Source:  Alauda Alauda's Airspeeder Completes 250 Successful Flights Electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) are a big, global, growth industry.  Morgan Stanley estimates the market will be worth $1.5 trillion by 2040.  A major industry player, Alauda Aeronautics, is emerging from Downunder in Adelaide, Southern Australia.  The company has just marked the 250th successful flight of its eVTOL Airspeeder.  And the company is helping to develop new technological breakthroughs for eVTOLs by establishing a competitive, global racing league for eVTOL/flying cars.  The concept is to foster and incubate innovation the way race car development has fostered breakthrough technologies for the automotive industry.   Alauda says it is racing to deliver a revolution in personal air mobility so that everyone will have a flying car.   Off to the Races Alauda is building the eVTOL racers for upcomi

  Working Prototype of the Flying Tiger                                                  Source:  VW China VW's First Aircraft Design The world's largest auto maker, Volkswagen, has just unveiled its first aircraft design, in the form of a working prototype. Formally called the VMO and nicknamed the Flying Tiger, it's a state-of-the-art passenger drone prototype, designed to serve as a flying taxi to shuttle a maximum of four passengers at a time between big cities, first in China. The Flying Tiger is all electric and totally autonomous.  It's being developed by engineers, scientists and roboticists at VW China in Beijing.  VW believes that we are headed towards a world where everyone is a pilot, with or without a pilot's license.  That's the perfect fit for the self-flying drone, Flying Tiger. Tech Specs The vehicle is a state-of-the-art drone, powered by 8 rotors for vertical lift and mobility and 2 rear propellers for forward movement. It is an eVTOL (electri

  VW Is Very Serious About Urban Air Mobility                                                                                                Source: Volkswagen eVTOL Flight Tests To Start This Year Volkswagen just unveiled a flying taxi prototype that is being developed by the automaker's division in China.  VW calls it a "passenger drone".  It is fully electric, fully autonomous and takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter.  VW plans to start test flights later this year and build an upgraded prototype by the summer of 2023.  For VW, air taxis could be a significant commercial venture. The VW flying taxi prototype is called V.MO. Tech Specs  The eVTOL has ten rotors: eight for vertical lift and two for forward, horizontal flight.  VW hopes to achieve a 124-mile range on a charge.  It will be used to ferry passengers within cities such as from an office park to the airport and also to fly from city to city such as Baltimore to Washington, DC.  VW is working with s

  Sweden's Jetson One                                             Source:  Jetson Aero Strap Yourself in For an Aerial Spin Sweden's Jetson Aero has developed Jetson One, an electric, single-seat personal aircraft that breaks the mold for access to personal flying.  It is relatively inexpensive at $92,000 and largely flies itself in drone-like fashion. It does not require a pilot's license. It is extremely lightweight at 190 pounds but can carry a pilot that weighs up to 210 pounds.  The aircraft is totally electric powered and there are zero emissions. Tech Specs The vehicle operates on eight electric motors and a powerful, high discharge lithium-ion battery.  It can take you places and at a good speed.  The range on a charge is 20 minutes flying time and the aircraft can hit speeds of 63 mph.  It takes only an hour to charge the vehicle.  It is an eVTOL, meaning it takes off and lands like a helicopter from a driveway or garden. It is designed for sheer fun flying. The co