Small unmanned aircraft equipped with meteorological instruments have flown simulated urban and suburban delivery routes on the Daytona Beach, Florida, campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to help develop hyperlocal weather prediction tools needed for autonomous flights in populated areas.
The first experimental prototype of Joby Aviation’s S4 electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi crashed on Feb. 16 during a remotely piloted flight at the company’s remote flight test base in Big Sur, California.
Chinese startup AutoFlight completed the first transition between vertical and forward flight for its Prosperity 1 air taxi in record time for an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft program by drawing on its experience from almost 10,000 flights of its unmanned cargo aircraft.
Rolls-Royce has signed a memorandum of understanding with Luxembourg-based business jet and helicopter service provider and fixed-based operator Luxaviation to collaborate on the development and deployment of advanced air mobility.
The FAA is studying the concept of a new set of operational rules and regulations dubbed automated flight rules, which will be designed to handle the huge increase in mainly low altitude air traffic anticipated with the emergence of new generation advanced air mobility vehicles.
Shield AI is to begin integrating its Hivemind autonomy software onto Beta Technologies’ Alia electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with funding from the U.S. Air Force’s Agility Prime program.
Elbit Systems’ StarLiner medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system has received type certification from the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel, approving the aircraft to fly in civil airspace.
Volocopter has secured a commitment for up to $1 billion in financing to build its fleet of electric vertical takeoff and landing passenger and cargo vehicles.
Singapore-based private aviation charter company Yugo has partnered with U.S. startup Electra.aero to develop an air mobility network in the Asia-Pacific region.
Californian startup Natilus has announced letters of intent for more than 440 large unmanned cargo aircraft from customers including a Canadian drone operator, an African cargo airline and a U.S. freight forwarder.
Israel’s Steadicopter says its Black Eagle 50H VTOL UAS is the first in its class and combines the best of both its electric and petrol-powered Black Eagle UAS.
Vertical Aerospace has selected Leonardo’s aerostructures division to design, test and manufacture the carbon-composite fuselage for its planned VX4 air taxi.
