Daimler backs radical eighteen rotor autonomous air taxi

[brooklynite]

Source: Daily Mail

German automobile firm Daimler and other investors have has invested more than $29 million dollars (25 million euro) in aviation start-up Volocopter.

Volocopter plans to use the money to invest in further developing its electrically powered, autonomous Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft and 'conquer' the market for flying air taxis.

Volocopter's 'Volocopter 2X' is a fully electric VTOL with 18 quiet rotors and a maximum airspeed of 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour - and it can transport two passengers without a pilot.

...snip...

Volocopter announced that in the fourth quarter of 2017, it will work with Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) to conduct tests of its vehicle as an autonomous air taxi. The trial operations and certification program is expected to continue for five years


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4758620/Daimler-backs-radical-eighteen-rotor-autonomous-air-taxi.html

[Ligyron]

1. I want one for personal use!

[PoliticAverse]

2. Why are they rushing to make passenger vehicles like this when the obvious first use should be cargo

vehicles?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. What is the profitable cargo use case?

Occasionally rushing a set of lungs from the airport to the hospital?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

3. Hmm... my office building has an abandoned never used helicopter pad

The original developer went out of business while it was under construction and it's just sitting there covered in paving stones because the lounge for the helicopter pad was converted to office space.

I would kill to commute like this.

[DemoTex]

5. Ha! And we thought the V-22 Osprey was dangerous.

All I see there, is a flying machine on the way to a crash. One word (and one system): the TRANSMISSION.

[Thor_MN]

6. Being electric, it probably doesn't have a "transmission".

At least in the same terms as an internal combustion powered aircraft would have. IC engines have a relatively narrow RPM range where the engine operates efficiently (or at all) and need different gear ratios to operate at all speeds. Electric engines can operate over a wider RPM range and don't need (as many) gear ratios, simplifying power transfer.

In fact, it could have 18 direct drive motors, eliminating the single point of failure that you bring up. Losing one motor/rotor would mean a 6% reduction in power, a lot more survivable than a 50% loss on an Osprey.

Comparing this thing to an Osprey is a grape to watermelon kind of deal, they both fly, but have no where near the same purpose.