The Internet of Flying Things

The next technology revolution will be in transportation.

It’s the ultimate combination of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and eventually, quantum computing.

This digital transformation has been many years in the making.

The concept of self-driving vehicles, finally starting to be implemented in several markets, is one of the steppingstones to where the world of transport is headed.

But the next real action will be in the sky, where there’s no legacy infrastructure and lots of open air for the creation or air roads or air corridors over which countless electric aerial vehicles (EAV) will travel, thousands of feet below traditional aircraft.

These vehicles will carry cargo, upending entire supply chains and business logistics, as well as people, impacting business and personal travel, smart cities and travel infrastructures.

Unlike airlines, these electric aerial vehicles are aimed at taking people and things on trips too short for a traditional airline flight but long for a car drive. They take off straight up, so don’t need airports or runways.

Government regulators are getting on board.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has set 2028 as the timeframe for aerial vehicles such as air taxis to be traveling to and from destinations, with early starts in 2025.

The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Implementation Plan recently introduced by the FAA details the steps and processes for aerial vehicle operations to be regulated and certified.

The FAA defines AAM as “an emerging aviation ecosystem that leverages new aircraft and an array of innovative technologies. The scope of AAM is limited to those engaging in passenger-carrying or cargo operations with a pilot on board.”

The reality is, there are flying cars and then there are flying cars.

One type involves vehicles designed to fly as well as drive on roads. The other type only flies and is aimed at becoming the transportation mode of the future.

For example, California startup Aska has approval from the Department of Motor Vehicles to drive on public roads, with the large wings and propellers folded and resting on top of the vehicle.

The company also received a special air worthiness certification from the FAA to conduct test flights of its four-seater passenger vehicle.

A large automotive company is also pursuing flying vehicles. Joby Aviation received FAA approval to flight test its first production prototype.

The eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) craft is expected to be operated by Joby at Edwards Air Force Base as part of the company’s $131 million contract with the U.S. Air Force.

Toyota is Joby’s strategic partner and largest external shareholder, having invested $400 million in the venture. The companies recently signed an agreement for the supply of powertrain and actuation components. Pre-production versions of the Joby electric aircraft have flown 30,000 miles since 2019, according to the company.

?Big Funding for EAVs

In addition to the FAA setting rules and approving various flight tests, large funding is heading into the industry.

• ?Archer Aviation signed a $142 million deal with the U.S. Air Force to provide eVTOL vehicles. The agreement includes the delivery of six Archer Midnight aircraft to the Air Force, as an expansion of its partnership with the Department of Defense. The EAV can carry payloads of 1,000 pounds and has a proprietary electric powertrain and a low noise profile. Archer received additional funding of $215 million, bringing the total investment to $1.1 billion. The funding came from Boeing, United Airlines, Stellantis and Ark Investment Management.

• Early last year, Boeing invested $450 million in Wisk and recently acquired the startup, making it a Boeing subsidiary.
• ?Lilium, developer of an eVTO, secured $192 million in financing in addition to a coming public offering. Lilium is receiving funding from different investors including board members and Tencent Holdings, one of its initial backers. The company, founded in 2015, has manufacturing facilities in Munich, German, with teams in the U.S. and Europe.
• ?The delivery of air cargo by self-flying eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) craft is moving forward thanks to a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation. The autonomous cargo delivery flight demonstrations by MightyFly are to test the shipment of 100 pounds of goods in cargo bays that can carry 200 small U.S. postal service packages.

In addition to millions of U.S. dollars flowing into electric aerial vehicles, the transportation revolution is global.

• ?Suzuki plans to produce EAVs with fellow Japanese company SkyDrive. The companies plan to establish a wholly owned subsidiary to manufacture eVTOL craft at a Suzuki plant.
• ?A Chinese EAV company raised $23 million in a private placement, mostly from a well-known South Korean music producer. EHang Holdings Limited plans to use the funds for working capital and general corporate purposes, “enabling acceleration of strategic plans for technology advancement, business development and post-certification commercial operations,” according to the company. The funds came primarily from Lee Soo Man, a South Korean music producer, entrepreneur and the founder of K-pop and SM Entertainment, a South Korean leading multinational entertainment company.
• ?The state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group, the fifth largest automaker in China, is developing flying cars. A prototype of the flying passenger vehicle was shown recently at the GAC Tech Day in China. The flying vehicle is called Gove, taking initials from GAC, on the go, vertical and EV. The craft is equipped with a hydrogen-electric electric hybrid system. It has a separate body configuration, and the flight cabin and chassis can be separated or combined. The vehicle is designed to fly or be driven on roads.

?In addition to funding and innovation globally, EAV flight tests are underway.

For example, Vertical Aerospace flew its electric aircraft at Cotswold Airport in Kemble U.K. The remotely controlled plane, powered solely by the battery-powered propulsion system, lifted, hovered, flew and landed. The VX4 test aircraft reached speeds of just over 40 mph through a series of remotely piloted thrust-borne test flights. Vertical’s partners include Honeywell, which designs the aircraft control system, and Rolls Royce, also an investor in Vertical.

A flying taxi flight was held in Saudi Arabia during a one-week period as part of an arrangement with Volocopter.

A flying taxi company has demonstrated a formation of three self-flying electric aerial vehicles (EAV) in Shanghai, China. The prototype vehicles from AutoFlight took off vertically and flew in formation. The vehicles have flown at different heights and for different durations. Previous test flights have ranged up to 75 miles at a time and up to 42 minutes per flight.

Doroni Aerospace CEO Doron Merdinger test flew the company’s EAV inside a test building, all controlled with a joystick.

The vision of Doroni is that these flying cars will be for individuals, much like the ownership of a personal car.

This transportation revolution, filled with connected flying vehicles, is getting underway.

?

?

?

?