DroneMasters Briefing #189

The initiative by Beta Technologies and Signature Aviation to equip airports with charging stations for electric aircraft illustrates the challenge of developing an infrastructure for new forms of air mobility that meets operational requirements as well as safety and environmental standards.

This issue is becoming increasingly relevant for drone delivery services, in addition to technological developments. On the one hand, it is about communication in the airspace, as the cooperation between Foodora and Tele2 in Sweden shows, but also about real operating sites that can ensure maintenance and mission control. 

In both passenger transport and logistics, the development of a robust infrastructure could play a key role in scaling transportation services in the third dimension. 

In this context, the choice of energy source also plays an important role. While battery-electric systems are already well established in the mobility sector, the focus on hydrogen still carries high risks regarding the propulsion systems' robustness and fuel availability.

In any case, the design of the future drone infrastructure remains an exciting topic that we will continue to examine in the future. 

Enjoy the news from the drone industry, and have a wonderful weekend!

Please note: This is an abridged version of the DroneMasters Briefing. Further news, links to all sources and references to upcoming events are part of the DroneMasters Briefing via Email. Register here.

XPO+ Launcher is XPONENTIAL's new startup platform. XPO+ Launcherwill host a three-day lounge during the next show in San Diego, April 23-25, where autonomous tech startups can showcase their latest product and service offerings, meet angels, VCs, and other key stakeholders, test-run their pitch deck on the Innovation Stage, and participate in the inaugural XPO+ Launcher Award onsite on April 24. The winning startup will receive a free booth at XPONENTIAL EUROPE in Düsseldorf in February 2025. More info.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Investment. Stellantis, the world's fourth largest automaker with brands such as Fiat, Peugeot, Jeep, Chrysler, and Maserati, is strengthening its commitment to Archer Aviation by acquiring approximately 8.3 million shares of Archer stock. This move underscores Stellantis' confidence in Archer's vision to introduce electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft by 2025. With plans for mass production of Archer's Midnight aircraft and ongoing collaboration, Stellantis aims to support Archer's path to commercialization and revolutionize urban transportation.

Financing. German Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) wants to promote the development of air taxis by providing 150 million euros to the start-up company Volocopter. Despite warnings from auditors PwC and a tight federal budget, the liberal minister is proceeding with the project. Critics fear a total loss of the investment, which will be lacking in other areas of transportation, and question the prioritization. Volocopter faces certification and funding hurdles but remains optimistic about the future of air-taxi commercialization.

Acquisition. The Chinese Hebei Jianxin Flying Car Technology Companyhas purchased the exclusive rights to build and operate the AirCar aircraft from the Slovakian company Klein Vision in an undisclosed area. The purchase price is not known, nor whether and when the Chinese company will produce the AirCar.

Acquisition. Honeywell plans to acquire Civitanavi Systems for approximately Euro 200 million to enhance its autonomous technology capabilities, aiming to expand its navigation and sensor products into the advanced air mobility market. The deal is expected to conclude in the third quarter of 2024, pending regulatory approvals.

Contract. Red Cat Holdings has secured a USD 2.5 million deal to supply Teal 2 drones to two NATO allies, without specifying the countries or their intended use. This contract marks a step towards expanding its international reach beyond US military and security clients.

Partnership. Foodora, in partnership with Tele2, is launching foodora Airin Sweden, a drone delivery service using 5G IoT technology to deliver food directly to customers' gardens or properties, starting in Värmdö. The service aims to expand access to fast delivery options beyond urban centers.

Partnership. Blueflite, a U.S.-based drone manufacturer, announced a strategic partnership with DroneUp, a U.S.-based autonomous drone delivery company, to expand commercial drone delivery capabilities. Blueflite's technology aligns with DroneUp's autonomous drone ecosystem, promising fast, safe, and efficient deliveries within a 15-mile radius. This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing last-mile delivery.

TECHNOLOGY & DEVELOPMENT

Infrastructure. Beta Technologies and Signature Aviation are equipping three airports on the U.S. East Coast with electric aircraft charging stations, including Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, Frederick Municipal Airport and Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. The initiative is part of a formal partnership and aims to increase access to electric aviation and promote regional air mobility through interoperable charging stations that are also compatible with other electric air and ground vehicles.

Development. Inertial Labs and Sony are jointly developing an advanced LiDAR system to be integrated into Sony's Airpeak drone to significantly improve efficiency and data accuracy in fields such as construction, agriculture and film production.

Infrastructure. Joby plans to launch its first air taxi services in Dubai by the end of 2025, before they become available in the US. This underlines Dubai's position as potentially the first city for commercial air taxi flights.

Hydrogen Propulsion. Alaka'i Technologies is another company working on using liquid hydrogen as a fuel to challenge the dominance of battery electric powertrains in the eVTOL market. Liquid hydrogen offers performance advantages such as a longer range and zero carbon emissions, but it also raises infrastructure and safety issues. Alaka'i's hydrogen-powered eVTOL Skaiis said to have an endurance of up to four hours and can carry a payload of 1,000 pounds (454 kg).

Reading Tip: Overcoming the battery challenge - Hybrid electric technology emerges as a solution to electric aircraft's range limitations. Companies such as Rolls-Royce and Elroy Air are pioneering hybrid eVTOLs that combine turbines with batteries to extend range. These innovations target regional flights, with potential logistics and military operations applications. Despite the complexities of power management, advances in turbine development and sustainable aviation fuels signal a promising future for hybrid electric aviation.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Pilot Training. The Canadian company CAE, one of the leading providers of flight simulator technology for the training sector, is cooperating with the US game developer Epic Games, known for Fortnite, to improve the visual representation of flight simulators by integrating the Unreal Engine and increasing realism. The Prodigy image generator promises photorealistic renderings, improved motion models, and immersive training environments. The collaboration aims to raise the standard of pilot training and close the gap between the virtual and real world to improve safety in aviation.

SCIENCE & RESEARCH

Review of Control Technologies for Quiet Operations of Advanced Air-Mobility. This article examines current technologies to reduce rotor noise for urban air mobility. Passive approaches such as blade tip modifications show promise but have limitations. Optimization methods are reviewed for potential performance improvements. Legacy helicopter control technologies are discussed along with emerging active control solutions. Despite progress, challenges remain in achieving quiet operations for Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles (AAM).

POLICY & REGULATIONS

Certification. Drone Express is launching a drone delivery service in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, seeking FAA certification for beyond visual line of sight deliveries. The move is motivated by its AeroX membership, which is developing an advanced air mobility ecosystem and a drone traffic management system in North Carolina.

Law and order. Washington has passed a law that allows the use of spray drones to combat graffiti. It is due to come into force in June and aims to efficiently paint over graffiti on highways. The law also calls for the development of technology to identify and punish graffiti offenders.

CRAZY!

Smuggling. Georgia authorities arrested nearly 150 people in a significant operation against drone-based contraband smuggling into prisons. Operation Skyhawk by the Georgia Department of Corrections resulted in the seizure of drugs, weapons, phones, and other prohibited items. The investigation revealed the state's largest criminal operation of this kind, implicating a UAV repair business in the smuggling scheme, and leading to the seizure of contraband valued at USD 7 million.

Further news, links to all sources and references to upcoming events are part of the DroneMasters Briefing via Email. Register here.