Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

"if I had a flying car like Harry Potter, I would go wherever I want.

Author: Stefan Ellerbeck |

Compilation: Tang Poetry |

Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft are like helicopters, except that they have wings rather than blades, and they do not need a runway.

It is expected that in the next few years, they will greatly reduce the transportation time of passengers and goods.

The UK has conducted experiments and plans to build more VTOL infrastructure around the world.

From carpooling to the COVID-19 blockade, cities have undergone great changes in the past few years. These changes have changed the way people travel, the way they work, and the factors that drive the economy. A surprising new era of traffic is just around the corner-but this time, cities have time to prepare and develop the most appropriate solutions.

This new technology that subverts traffic has many names, such as Urban Air Traffic (UAM), helicopter 2.0 or even "flying cars". This new vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) approach provides an infrastructure (launch pad, etc.) that is less expensive to build than railways and safer and easier than traditional helicopters. If implemented properly, UAM can connect existing traffic nodes, reducing the commuting burden in the city.

Flying cars, once seen as part of the future of the space age, are within reach. Cautious forecasts from technology companies and regulators say these solutions could be in place within five to 10 years. However, in order to ensure that the public believes in this new option and that it truly meets the needs of the people, cities must immediately start planning to set standards and expectations.

Travel time between many cities can be reduced by 75%, thanks to the mode of transportation that appears directly in this science fiction.

Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) planes may soon land in nearby cities. The VTOL is a bit like a helicopter, but it has wings rather than blades. They also do not need a runway because, as the name implies, they can take off and land vertically.

VTOL can be used as a flying taxi to transport passengers in crowded cities, as an ambulance to take the sick or injured to the hospital, or as a faster way to transport goods.

Other advantages include the infrastructure they need, such as "vertical" launchers that are cheaper than traditional transport hubs. They are also greener than traditional modes of transportation because they use batteries and cleaner fuels such as hydrogen.

How does vertical take-off and landing work? VTOL can run in almost any environment, and they are particularly suitable for urban environments because they do not need a runway.

Because of their fixed-wing design, these "power lift" aircraft can fly longer and at higher altitudes than helicopters with rotor blades, according to the US company Aurelia Aerospace. The company says its Aurelia Q1 model can fly for up to 2.5hours and has a range of 20km.

The fixed wing vertical take-off and landing has a longer flight capability than the helicopter. Picture: Aurelia Aerospace. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said that the VTOL used to transport cargo is likely to use long-distance driving technology. Maybe there will still be a driver in the beginning. But with the development of technology, this may change.

"maybe 10 years from now, we would like to see human pilots in air taxis gradually replaced by long-range pilots on the ground," said the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). "in further development, we may see air taxis operate independently without any human intervention during the flight."

American aircraft manufacturer Boeing has released a roadmap for its vision for urban air transport in the future. It believes that VTOL needs to drive remotely to reduce the burden on air traffic controllers and pilots.

"We are working to achieve a safe, sustainable and large-scale aerospace future," said Brian Yutko, Boeing's vice president and chief engineer for sustainability and future mobility. "Unmanned operations will be the basis for achieving this vision, and we must go beyond the safety standards of current air transport systems."

Boeing said its vertical take-off and landing aircraft would fly under "visual or instrument flight rules" and would be supported by automatic airborne and ground systems.

02. What is a vertical port? The new generation of vertical takeoffs and landers will require customized transport hubs associated with traditional modes of travel, such as trains, buses and existing airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has released new guidelines on these vertical airport design standards and the integration of what they call Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) aircraft. These ideas provide designers and builders with information about the vertical airport to ensure safe takeoff and landing, as well as the safe distance between the vertical airport and the current runway.

The vertical port may be located near the existing urban transport infrastructure. Photo: Boeing. "our country is entering a new era in the aviation industry," said Shannetta Griffin, deputy director of airports of the Federal Aviation Administration. "these vertical airport design standards lay the foundation for the safe construction of infrastructure in this new era."

03. When can VTOL travel happen? In the summer of 2022, the world's first operational vertical airport conducted a three-week trial in Coventry, England. Air-One is the result of a partnership between Coventry City Council and British start-up Urban-Air Port to demonstrate the potential of urban air traffic in reducing congestion and air pollution.

The pop-up Air-One is built in Coventry. It is designed for zero-emission electric drones and aerial taxis, and the airport itself is powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

The modern air mobility department has even sent a full-size model of the SA-1 air taxi, which will be on display at the airport. Urban-Air Port says the lack of proper infrastructure is one of the biggest obstacles to the development of electric vertical take-off (eVTOL) aircraft.

It aims to open more than 200 vertical airports around the world and plans to open sites in London, Los Angeles, Australia, South Korea, France, Germany, Scandinavia and Southeast Asia.

Ferrovial, a Spanish transport infrastructure company, plans to build a network of more than 25 vertical airports in the UK. It also said it was developing more than 10 vertical airports in Florida.

The global advanced air traffic market could reach $760 million by 2027, with the United States, China, Japan, Canada and Europe expected to lead the trend, according to researchers. The industry could also help create 90,000 new jobs in the EU, EASA said.

This article comes from the official account of Wechat: new Research (ID:chuxinyanjiu), author: Tang Shi

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