Electrical Vertical Takeoff and Landing

An eVTOL aircraft is one that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land
vertically.
Most eVTOLs also use what is called as distributed electric propulsion
technology which means integrating a complex propulsion system with the
airframe.
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) is one of the newest
innovations in the aerospace industry. eVTOL vehicles are electric and
function much like a drone. Large omnidirectional fans help the aircraft
move in any direction and even takeoff vertically. While designs vary
between developers, most seem to resemble the form of a drone. 
 
It remains to be seen whether companies will opt for a design featuring
rotor systems or electric propulsion. Only one developer has invested in
a fixed-wing aircraft. 
 
Still, for an eVTOL to function as an ‘air-taxi,’ vertical takeoff is a
necessity. Another critical element of eVTOL flight is the transition
between vertical and forward flight.  
 
Nearly a decade ago, NASA scientists hypothesized that the next vertical
flight era would feature distributed electric propulsion. 
 
Distributed electric propulsion uses multiple thrusters, an efficient wing
design for safety, noise, and emissions advantages. Therefore, it
replaces rotor systems using collective, cyclic, swashplate,
transmissions, gearboxes, shafting, and hydraulics. At least, for vertical
flight. 
Benefits of EVTOL

 In order to maximize efficiency, and to also ensure safety, there

are multiple motors.
 This is technology that has grown on account of successes in
electric propulsion based on progress in motor, battery, fuel
cell and electronic controller technologies and also fuelled by
the need for new vehicle technology that ensures Urban Air
Mobility (UAM).
 Thus, eVTOL is one of the newer technologies and
developments in the aerospace industry.
 There are an estimated 250 eVTOL concepts or more being
fine-tuned to bring alive the concept of UAM.
 Some of these include the use of multi-rotors, fixed-wing and
tilt-wing concepts backed by sensors, cameras and even radar.
Here the key word here is “autonomous connectivity”.
 Some of these are in various test phases and there are also
others undergoing test flights so as to be certified for use.
 In short, eVTOLs have been likened to a third wave in an aerial
revolution.
 The first being the advent of commercial flying and the second,
the age of helicopters.
Objective and Mission Details

The roles eVTOLs adopt depends on battery technology and the limits of onboard

electric power.

Power is required during the key phases of flight such as take off, landing and flight
(especially in high wind conditions).

Weight is also an important factor.

BAE Systems, for example, is looking at formats using a variety of Lithium batteries.

BAE Systems is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company

based in London, England.

Nano Diamond Batteries is looking at “Diamond Nuclear Voltaic (DNV)

technology” using minute amounts of carbon-14 nuclear waste encased in layered
industrial diamonds to create self-charging batteries.

The use of only batteries and looking at hybrid technologies such as hydrogen cells
and batteries depending on the flight mission has been questioned by experts.

There is even one that uses a gas-powered generator that powers a small aircraft

engine, in turn charging the battery system.

But whatever the technology, there will be very stringent checks and certification

requirements.

Crash Prevention Systems:

As the technology so far is a mix of unpiloted and piloted aircraft, the areas in focus
include “crash prevention systems”.

These use cameras, radar, GPS (Global Positioning System) and infrared scanners.

Ensuring Safety:

There are also issues such as ensuring safety in case of powerplant or rotor failure.
Aircraft protection from cyberattacks is another area of focus.

Navigation and Flight Safety:

A third area is in navigation and flight safety and the use of technology when
operating in difficult terrain, unsafe operating environments and also bad weather.
Theory and Fundamentals
eVTOL vehicles have applications beyond the ‘air taxi.’ Future possibilities include inter-city
transport and cargo shipping possibilities. For companies like Amazon, already invested in
drone delivery testing, the eVTOL could further reduce costs and speed up delivery.  

But before that future can be realized, there are significant hurdles to overcome. These
hurdles are mostly similar to what stands in the way of autonomous car adoption. 

Regulations  
Any autonomous vehicle will have to undergo legal regulation before it can be released to
the public. The complexities behind regulating autonomous cars are numerous. Even now,
regulations for autonomous cars have proven a significant obstacle.  

With an aircraft, there are fewer cues that the vehicle can follow. eVTOL’s will have to
develop flight plans and communicate with other aircraft.  

Even before autonomous electric aircraft, companies will have to deal with pilot certificates.
Pilots will need to obtain certificates just as they would for any other aircraft. Evident to
anyone in the airline industry, there are also stringent certifications to uphold.  

Technology 
The development of eVTOL will have to coincide with the adoption of 5G and the Internet of
Things. Aircraft will need to communicate with each other and any control centers. 

Onboard sensors and collision prevention systems will need IoT integration too. Real-time
information on location and maintenance requirements are crucial. Situational awareness for
aircraft that can move in all directions is no easy feat. 

If autonomous eVTOL vehicles take to the sky, artificial intelligence will play an important

role. AI technology will need reliable networks to communicate large amounts of data. 

Beyond that, efficiency is a big question mark above the new technology. Propulsion
remains a topic of disagreement between stakeholders. The factors that are most important
for efficiency are: 

Cost per kWh. 

Battery capacity and weight. 

Recharging speed.  

Infrastructure  
While we have plenty of airports, they are usually not located in the middle of busy cities.
Passengers will use eVTOL aircraft for short-distance trips too. Takeoff and landing zones
will have to be constructed all over big bustling cities. 
Infrastructure changes will also need to include areas to charge the aircraft. As it stands,
electric charging stations, much like the ones used by Tesla cars, seem most probable.
However, if other fuel systems will be preferred in the coming years, those plans could
change. 

The aircraft will also need infrastructure when not in use. Maintenance hangers or parking
lots will need to be built not far from central hubs. 

The infrastructure challenges for a communication system are also significant. Cities and
municipalities will have to plan locations as early as possible alongside technology vendors
and regulatory authorities.  

Safety
The only way that eVTOL aircraft will achieve mass adoption is with an exemplary safety
record. Training centers like Spartan College will develop and adapt programs for
the certification of new aircraft. With such different technologies and designs in play, this
makes for an exciting study.   

Psychology 
Flying in a small aircraft with a pilot is an intersection between taxi travel and commercial air
flight. But autonomous vehicles are a different ball game altogether. There is still a
psychological barrier for autonomous automobiles – a phenomenon that will prevail with
autonomous eVTOL aircraft. 

Nearly half the respondents in the Deloitte survey see eVTOL aircraft alleviating road

congestion. Yet 80% of respondents also think that electric aircraft are unsafe. 

Shaping and easing consumer opinions will be a steep learning curve for investors.  

Air Traffic Management 

Air traffic management is already an expensive and complicated process. The increase in
demand for good traffic management due to eVTOL will be substantial. The skies get busier
and increasingly diverse over time. 

Air traffic will need to integrate with other aircraft already in operation as well as
other eVTOL aircraft. All eVTOL aircraft will need the capability to communicate with each
other and detect each other. 

The difficulty here is that private, competing companies will need to work with each other to
keep the skies safe. Regulations are necessary to ensure that new ‘airlines’ stick to the
rules. 

Establishing an unmanned air traffic management system is complicated. There are many
interest groups with competing services and aims. Three key elements will make this
possible:  

Trusted surveillance 

Reliable communication 
Consistent navigation 

CATIA 
CATIA stands for Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application. It’s
much more than a CAD (Computer Aided Design) software package. It’s a full
software suite which incorporates CAD, CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) and
CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacture).
So, let’s take a look at each of these areas and the tools that CATIA offers
professionals to enhance innovation in product development
CATIA is the World's Leading Solution for Product Design and Experience. It is used by
leading organizations in multiple industries to develop the products we see and use in our
everyday lives.

CATIA delivers the unique ability not only to model any product, but to do so in the context
of its real-life behavior: design in the age of experience. Systems architects, engineers,
designers, construction professionals and all contributors can define, imagine and shape the
connected world.  
CATIA, powered by Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, delivers:   
 
A Social design environment built on a single source of truth and accessed through powerful
3D dashboards that drive business intelligence, real-time concurrent design and
collaboration across all stakeholders including mobile workers.
 An  Instinctive 3DEXPERIENCE, for both experienced and occasional users with world-class
3D modeling and simulation capabilities that optimize the effectiveness of every user.
An Inclusive product development platform that is easily integrated with existing processes
& tools. This enables multiple disciplines to leverage powerful and integrated specialist
applications across all phases of the product development process.
 
CATIA’s Design, Engineering, Systems Engineering and Construction applications are the
heart of  Industry Solution Experiences from Dassault Systèmes to address specific industry
needs. This revolutionizes the way organizations conceive, develop and realize new
products, delivering competitive edge through innovative customer experiences .
 Safety

 Ensuring Safety:

There are also issues such as ensuring safety in case of

powerplant or rotor failure. Aircraft protection from
cyberattacks is another area of focus.

 Navigation and Flight Safety:

A third area is in navigation and flight safety and the use of

technology when operating in difficult terrain, unsafe operating
environments and also bad weather.

 Safety and cost are the two biggest hurdles

in eVTOL development. But eVTOL already has significant
advantages. Electric aircraft can be fully autonomous,
environmentally friendly, and quiet

 The only way that eVTOL aircraft will achieve mass adoption is

with an exemplary safety record. Training centers like Spartan
College will develop and adapt programs for the certification of
new aircraft. With such different technologies and designs in play,
this makes for an exciting study.  
Electrical Power Output
on eVTOL aircraft details the following specifications: 

 Four passenger capacity (including a possible pilot). 

 Gross vehicle weight of 1,800kg. 
 500kW of power for one minute during takeoff and landing. 
 71kW of power required during flight for 150mph of speed. 

 120kW of power required during flight for 200mph of speed. 

 At the cost of $0.12 per kWh. 
 With the ability to run about 40 hours per week for a year.

The roles eVTOLs adopt depends on battery technology and the limits of

onboard electric power.
Power is required during the key phases of flight such as take off, landing and
flight (especially in high wind conditions).
Weight is also an important factor.
BAE Systems, for example, is looking at formats using a variety of Lithium
batteries.
BAE Systems is a British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company
based in London, England.
Nano Diamond Batteries is looking at “Diamond Nuclear Voltaic (DNV)
technology” using minute amounts of carbon-14 nuclear waste encased in
layered industrial diamonds to create self-charging batteries.
The use of only batteries and looking at hybrid technologies such as hydrogen
cells and batteries depending on the flight mission has been questioned by
experts.
There is even one that uses a gas-powered generator that powers a small
aircraft engine, in turn charging the battery system.
But whatever the technology, there will be very stringent checks and
certification requirements.

Noice

Industry experts agree that electric drive motors and slower propeller tip
speeds will enable eVTOL aircraft to have a significantly lower external noise
signature compared to helicopters, but that does not necessarily translate into
instant public acceptance. 

Noise is a key area that needs to be addressed in the eVTOL community in

order to scale up operations and make [the industry] economically viable,”
she said. This involves “operational noise, the physics and mechanics of the
vehicle and how you fly it, and community engagement.

Independent rotor systems give designers an enormous amount of flexibility

to tailor noise,” he said. Goldman said that disc loading, blade speed,
location, shape and thickness are all factors in the equation as is blade vortex
interaction. But offloading blade noise via vehicles transitioning onto a fixed-
wing for cruise flight, not only provides better vehicle economics, it also
significantly reduces noise, he noted.

“The quiet revolution is here,” he said. “I hope you didn’t hear it coming.” 
Regular Policies
As a rapidly developing new technology at the convergence of innovation,
sustainability, and evolving transportation needs, electric vertical take-off and
landing (eVTOL) aircraft are poised to revolutionize the aviation industry. This new
type of lightweight aircraft utilizes electric power to take off, hover, and land
vertically, and has emerged as a critical component in addressing modern
transportation needs in and around cities. eVTOLs offer a sustainable
transportation solution for moving passengers and cargo in urban areas, up to 200
miles, alleviating ground transportation congestion and reducing carbon emissions.
Commercially-operating eVTOLs are anticipated as soon as 2022 or 2023. This
alert summarizes the applicable legal and regulatory requirements for eVTOLs,
with a particular focus on certification, as well as a preview of the broader issues
that will need to be addressed to bring eVTOLs from concept to reality.
While eVTOL technology has existed in concept for over a decade, technological
development and investment in the sector has increased significantly in the last
few years. Advances in electric battery technology and growing demand for
sustainability in transportation have driven interest in eVTOLs across sectors, from
aviation and automotive companies to technology start-ups and early stage
investors. The increased opportunities in eVTOLs are part of the transportation
sector's focus on advanced air mobility (AAM), which aims to modernize and
streamline the transportation of people and cargo in regional and urban networks.
Within AAM, eVTOLs are expected to play an important role in urban air mobility
(UAM), the emerging framework for air transportation at lower altitudes within and
between cities. The eVTOL market is rapidly developing, with many companies
undertaking joint venture transactions, including for new eVTOL designs and
infrastructure such as vertiports, in a race toward commercial use applications.
Given the surging interest in eVTOLs around the globe, jurisdictions are faced with
adopting and implementing regulatory frameworks to govern their use within their
borders. Below we summarize the regulatory landscape relevant to taking eVTOLs
into commercial use, including the regulatory frameworks of the US Department of
Transportation (DOT), US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), with a focus on the evolving type
certification process for eVTOL designs.
Air Traffic Management
he urban airspace of the future will be structured with routes,
corridors, and boundaries that will define where UAM [urban air
mobility] aircraft may fly. These structures will provide predictability
to traffic flows while procedures will ensure that all stakeholders
have a consistent understanding of operating rules

Althhough communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS)

technologies, artificial intelligence, and automation will be critical
enablers of this system, “procedures and airspace structures will
remain the foundation of airspace management,” the white paper
states.

As the UATM system evolves, it may eventually integrate all UAS

operations so that all low-altitude aircraft — piloted and
autonomous — operate within a single system. However, for now,
we anticipate the UATM system will only manage traffic that primarily
flies above sUAS operations.

With drones performing increasingly complex operations, including beyond

visual line-of-sight (BVLOS), flying over urban areas and transporting people,
these safety challenges will only continue to mount.

 No flights within five miles of an airport

 Stay below 400 feet
 Fly slower than 100 mph
 No aircraft weighing more than 55 pounds

The proliferation of drones is rapidly transforming—and disrupting—airspace

as we know it, and safely accommodating these new entrants is an essential
priority for the ATM industry. With decades of experience in the safe, efficient,
and effective management of air transport, ATM service providers are still
coming to terms with this new era of aviation and the opportunities and
benefits that remotely piloted and unmanned aircraft vehicle operations can
bring. 

Security Issues
Indeed, cybersecurity may be one of the biggest technical challenges facing
eVTOL developers, according to a spokesperson for Pipistrel, developer of the
801 platform. Aircraft propulsion systems, flight controls, and other systems are
already available and relatively well-developed from a technological perspective,
and “eVTOLs can start flying tomorrow in automatic flight mode,” the
spokesperson said.

The threat is not limited to a particular part of the platform alone, ranging across
navigation, communication, and other vital systems, the spokesperson added.
“Each one of the many thousands of details, parts, and systems has the same
importance. We cannot consider the air vehicle in parts, but as a whole.”

Cybersecurity has particular importance in urban air mobility (UAM), where

operators will increasingly rely on electronic control systems on the ground and
in the air, said Travis Mason, vice president of regulatory and certification at
Airbus Urban Mobility. However, increasingly automated systems in UAM also
present new opportunities to minimize cybersecurity threats, he said, because
autonomous vehicles rely on fewer external resources and data.

“We address these opportunities on the vehicle and on the ground through a
combination of careful system design, a well-considered concept of operation,
and human oversight during operations,” he added. Airbus approaches
cybersecurity in its UAM products throughout the supply chain and
manufacturing cycles, working with internal experts and external specialists to
adopt best practices from the transportation, telecommunications, banking, and
military domains, Mason said.

There are a number of particular elements in the eVTOL domain that make it a
unique cyber target, said Todd Probert, vice president of command and control
(C2), space and intelligence at Raytheon. Many planned air taxis are set to be
unmanned, he said, meaning there is a degree of autonomy and a
corresponding coordination with ground infrastructure in terms of air traffic
management. However, air traffic management takes on a new meaning in this
domain, as the vast majority of the systems are meant to fly in the relatively
small, confined spaces of cities. This in turn means they demand sense and
avoid systems to ensure air taxis avoid colliding with buildings or with other
vehicles, he said. Such systems will need “some sort of cyber overlay,” Probert
emphasized.

Environmental effects
The study compares well-to-wing and well-to-wheel greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions to asses the environmental impact of the aircraft. The energy use of
electric vehicles in megajoules and GHG emissions in kilograms of carbon dioxide
equivalents on a 100-year global warming potential basis are used to compare
electric and combustion vehicles.

While this might sound complicated, according to the study, eVTOLs give off 28%
more equivalent green-house gas emissions than battery-electric road vehicles
(BEVs) making the same 100km journey. However, they still give off 35% lower
emissions than internal-combustion road vehicles.

However, when comparing a “fully loaded [e]VTOL” (estimated at three

passengers) to an average car occupancy of 1.54, VTOL GHG emissions are 52%
lower than internal-combustion vehicles and 6% lower than battery-powered cars.

Overall, the study concludes that a VTOL travelling distances of less than 35km
has a greater impact on the environment than an equivalent journey in a battery-
powered car but outperform at longer ranges at full capacity. This makes up
approximately 15% of vehicle trips.

Additionally, eVTOLs will be able to take more direct routes to destinations than
cars, and with higher travel speed (approx. 150mph) their travel time to
destinations will be substantially quicker than by road vehicle.

To round off the article, the paper concludes: “eVTOLs will be limited in their
contribution (and role) in a sustainable mobility system. For shorter distances,
energy-intensive hover dominates the flight profile, thereby preventing the eVTOL
from leveraging efficient aerodynamic performance in cruise.

Future enhancement
Air Taxi

A number of companies in a variety of nations have begun to work on air

taxi projects. Air taxis are ideal for congested locations, as they allow
people to commute between two points in less time. Furthermore, in
locations where passenger demand exceeds the current transportation
system’s capacity, adding air taxis would be a great initiative. Unlike
Ground vehicles, air Taxis do not require tracks or roads, which makes
infrastructure development and maintenance much easier.
Emergency response

eVTOLs are the most efficient and safe way of transport in the event of a
natural disaster. This can include everything from rescuing and
transporting hurricane or  earthquake victims to volcano evacuations.
Another application is search and rescue in areas where ground vehicles
are ineffective, such as rivers, forests, and mountains.

Firefighters also benefit from eVTOLs, since these vehicles can manage
flames in tall buildings as well as forest fires. Furthermore, in congested
areas, employing eVTOLs is faster and rescuers can get to the scene of
an incident much faster, which also applies to police and medical
transport. eVTOLs can be a lifesaver, especially because they can give a
more flexible and direct journey.
Cargo transport

eVTOLs can be shown to be far more efficient and faster than ground
vehicles in a variety of  situations, from large cargo deliveries to parcel
deliveries. If there are no passengers onboard during deliveries,
employing eVTOLs is less risky, and acceptance of eVTOLs is  higher.
Furthermore, a quicker delivery time would result in a better customer
experience,  which various businesses may benefit from. Furthermore, in
remote places where a ground vehicle takes days to make a single trip,
an eVTOL may make numerous flights in the same amount of time.
eVTOLs can also be utilized to carry critical supplies such as vaccines,
masks, and other medical equipment, in the event of an emergency.

Motor Controller’s & Veronte Autopilot 4x for eVTOL

Redundancy and efficiency is essential when it comes to manned flight

operations or flights over populated areas. Embention’s Veronte
Autopilot 4x and new Motor Controllers designed specifically for
eVTOL’s, provide the vehicle with the parameters needed to reach the
requirements for a safe flight.
Veronte Autopilot 4x is the first eVTOL autopilot including 4x
redundancy, and can be adapted to all kinds of eVTOLS vehicles without
requiring modification of the source code. In compliance with the
DO178C and DO254 aviation standards up to DAL-B, the system
provides the vehicle with the reliability evidence needed for passing the
most demanding certification processes. The fly-by-wire technology in
Veronte Autopilot 4x permits to safely control the aircraft from a joystick
installed in the pilot cabin. This redundant fly-by-wire solution is robust
to single point of failure and compatible with redundant sticks, cabin
buttons and actuators. Therefore, redundancy can be extended to all the
critical systems within the aircraft. 

Finally, energy efficiency is a parameter that needs to be taken into

account from early stages in the design of an eVTOL since power
consumption affect’s flight time. As a solution, Embention has developed
new Motor Controllers, MC280 and MC25KW, in order to help achieve
high efficiency due to the use of FOC control and the specific electronics
for its management.