| VoloRegion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| model 2021 | |
| Role | eVTOL |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Volocopter GmbH |
| Introduction | Planned for 2026 |
| Status | Under development |
The VoloRegion is an electrically powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically (eVTOL). It is being developed by the German company Volocopter. [1]
The concept of the VoloConnect was presented first on May 17, 2021 at the EBACE Connect conference. [2] The prototype was developed within two years in Munich under the direction of chief engineer Sebastian Mores. So far, only scaled-down prototypes have been tested in flight. The certification SC VTOL enhanced (10−9) [3] shall be reached within the next 5 years. The VoloRegion will be linked to the Volocopter software platform VoloIQ. [4] [5] In cooperation with Fraport, take-off and landing areas are planned which are necessary for the implementation of the urban air mobility concept. [6] In October 2022 the VoloConnect was renamed and is now called the VoloRegion. [7]
The VoloRegion has a multi-rotor system. It uses a hybrid lift and push design with a purely electric drive. It's equipped with 8 individual motors, 6 of which are connected to free propellers generate the lift and two to ducted propellers providing the forward thrust. There is a main high-wing wing with two outriggers for the 6 VTOL propellers. The stern is V-shaped. [8] The lift of the VoloRegion is not only generated by propellers, as is usual with Volocopter, but also with its wings. This is energetically better.
Data fromVoloRegion / Electric VTOL News by the Vertical Flight Society [8]
General characteristics
Performance
The VoloRegion is designed for short range personal transport, it's connecting the suburbs to cities. [10]
The Volocopter VC2 is a German single-place experimental electric multirotor personal air vehicle that was built by Volocopter GmbH of Bruchsal, Germany.
Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd is a company based in Guangzhou, China that develops and manufactures autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) and passenger AAVs which have entered service in China for aerial cinematography, photography, emergency response, and survey missions.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have seen an uptick is usage in the early 1990’s. This technology can be used for data collection and analysis, surveillance, research, filmmaking, and other general usage, and although it was once reserved for military use through the 1990’s and early 2000’s, it now has usage among civilians. Since the 2000s, drone technology has improved to include developments in commercial applications such as deliveries and passenger transportation. More specifically, Ehang, a technology company based in Guangzhou, China, has developed the Ehang 184, the world's first passenger drone. These advancements in drone technology have led to many more developments and usage in the aspect of passenger transportation.
Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is the use of small, highly automated aircraft to carry passengers or cargo at lower altitudes in urban and suburban areas which have been developed in response to traffic congestion. It usually refers to existing and emerging technologies such as traditional helicopters, vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (VTOL), electrically propelled, vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (eVTOL), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These aircraft are characterized by the use of multiple electric-powered rotors or fans for lift and propulsion, along with fly-by-wire systems to control them. Inventors have explored urban air mobility concepts since the early days of powered flight. However, advances in materials, computerized flight controls, batteries and electric motors improved innovation and designs beginning in the late 2010s. Most UAM proponents envision that the aircraft will be owned and operated by professional operators, as with taxis, rather than by private individuals.
The Lilium Jet is a prototype German electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) electrically powered airplane designed by Lilium GmbH. A seven-seat production version is planned.
The Airbus CityAirbus is a multinational project by Airbus Helicopters to produce an electrically-powered VTOL personal air vehicle demonstrator. It is intended for the air taxi role, to avoid ground traffic congestion.
The Airbus Vahana was an electric-powered eight-propeller VTOL personal air vehicle prototype financed by A³, by Airbus and Airbus Urban Mobility. The Vahana project started in 2016 as one of the first projects at A³, the advanced projects and partnerships outpost of Airbus Group in Silicon Valley. Airbus "envision[s] Vahana being used by everyday commuters as a cost-comparable replacement for short-range urban transportation like cars or trains". It was planned to be a part of urban air mobility. The project was finished in December 2019.
Joby Aviation is a United States venture-backed aviation company, developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that it intends to operate as an air taxi service. Joby Aviation is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, and has offices in San Carlos, California; Marina, California; and Munich, Germany.
Volocopter GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Bruchsal and founded by Alexander Zosel and Stephan Wolf. The company specializes in the design of electric multirotor helicopters in the form of personal air vehicles, designed for air taxi use. The CEO is Florian Reuter and chairman Stefan Klocke.
Vertical Aerospace is an aerospace manufacturer based in Bristol, England. It designs and builds zero emission, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) electrically powered aircraft.
The Elroy Air Cargo is an unmanned cargo aircraft developed by American startup company Elroy Air, intended to replace land delivery trucks on inefficient routes with unmanned aircraft.
Beta Technologies, is a Burlington, Vermont-based aerospace manufacturer developing electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for the cargo and logistics industry. The company has also developed a network of specially designed charging infrastructure to support their aircraft.
The Boeing Passenger Air Vehicle (PAV) is an American autonomous personal air vehicle prototype developed by the Boeing NeXt division of Boeing with the assistance of Aurora Flight Sciences.
The Boeing Cargo Air Vehicle is an unmanned, autonomously flying, fully electric cargo air vehicle (CAV). It was made possible by an investment of Boeing HorizonX Ventures.
The XTI TriFan 600 is a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft currently under development by XTI Aircraft Company.
The Pipistrel 801 eVTOL is a Slovenian autonomous vertical take-off electric aircraft for the air taxi role under development by Pipistrel Vertical Solutions of Ajdovščina. It was publicly announced at the Uber Elevate Summit in Washington, D.C., United States, in June 2019. The aircraft is intended to be supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is a variety of VTOL aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically. This technology came about thanks to major advances in electric propulsion and the growing need for new vehicles for urban air mobility. Examples are being developed by aircraft companies such as Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and NASA.
The Wisk Cora is an American autonomous personal air vehicle prototype previously developed by the Kitty Hawk Corporation, and subsequently by Wisk Aero.
The Pipistrel Nuuva V300 is an unmanned hybrid-electric VTOL cargo aircraft currently under development by Pipistrel and projected to be released in 2023. The aircraft has eight electric motors driving propellers providing lift as well as a single internal combustion engine driving a propeller providing thrust. The company claims that the aircraft will be able to operate with a typical cargo weight of 300 kg (661 lb) and a typical range of 300 km (162 nmi). In October 2020 the company announced that the aircraft would implement a Honeywell fly-by-wire system.
Archer Aviation is an American company commercializing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, headquartered in San Jose, California. Archer's eVTOL aircraft have a range of up to 100 miles and travel at speeds of up to 150 mph.