We’re entering an unprecedented era of technology
and mobility, with electric and other alternative fuels tipping the scales.
Once thought impossible, the electric vertical takeoff and landing, or eVTOL is now a reality.
Come along as we showcase an eVTOL that may be flying across a ranch near you,
helping progress science and society even further.
And stick around until the end of the video for a look at our honorable mentions.
Let’s get to it!
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Thank you for watching, Mind's Eye Design!
The real-world concept of the eVTOL was first introduced to the world in 2009 by NASA
when they released a render of a single-person eVTOL.
Although the idea of such crafts has been present in Sci-Fi for a long time.
However, it wasn’t until 2011 when actual efforts by the industry began to take place,
chasing the dream of the Jetsons.
While large companies such as Boeing, Airbus, and Bell have been taking the helm on these projects,
the smaller startups have been the backbone of the eVTOL movement.
Such as Ryse Aero Tech, which has seized the current realities of
the now possible crafts to bring handy tools to their customers.
They do so with their upcoming design, the Ryse Recon.
While taking cruise rides is certainly within the capabilities of the Ryse Recon,
it is being designed for a more noble purpose specifically.
That is to take rural users from one destination to another.
Perhaps the most significant thing about eVTOLs is that they don’t need
to worry about the sort of barriers that helicopters or planes need to.
They don’t need a runway, and they require much smaller landing and takeoff points.
Because of this, they will be beneficial for surveying landscapes,
transporting supplies to people in traditionally difficult areas to reach,
and saving lives by getting and transporting individuals in need.
The projected specs for the Recon are looking pretty good, too,
with a weight of around three hundred pounds, a max range of about twenty-five miles,
and a max speed capping at sixty-three miles per hour.
It will be powered by six independent propulsion systems, which will,
in turn, be powered by their own individual removable battery packs.
So you can swap them out on the fly, possibly providing more fly time.
The company says their baby is specifically designed to be easily mass-produced,
cheap to keep running, and clean. So easy to fly that anyone can pilot it.
While prices are not available yet for those interested,
Ryse has stated that they have a functional prototype and will be
releasing more detailed specs closer to their planned launch next year.
As always, thanks for watching. We hope you enjoyed the video.
Are you as excited about the future of eVTOLs as we are?
Take just a minute of your time to leave a comment below, letting us know your thoughts.
And stick around for our honorable mentions right after this.
Moving away from the rotor type design of other up-and-coming aircraft,
the ANN1 is capable of both Vertical and Short Take-Off Landing – dubbed eV/STOL.
It's a similar operation style to the hugely successful Harrier Jump Jet
used in the US armed forces.
It's a single-seater that uses a hybrid-electric rotating propulsion system
that cannibalizes the energy continuously produced by the gas turbine with a generator.
The kinetic energy usually lost
is collected to improve efficiency, speed, and flight range.
The ANN1 model has been designed for extreme performance and competition use,
with a higher theoretical top speed and altitude.
Whereas the ANN2 is a basic utility platform
that not only seats two but boasts a much more comprehensive range.
Useful for things like urban surveillance and getting emergency services
to where they need to go very quickly.
Taking a different approach, the Jetson One is an ultra-lightweight electric Vertical
Take-Off and Landing vehicle (or eVTOL for short) that weighs less than some humans.
Tipping the scales at an unbelievable 198lb!
The design brief was simple – with roads and freeways clogged up with cars,
why not make the skies available to the Regular Joe to travel in.
The resulting prototype is made from an all-aluminum chassis
with a carbon fiber seat and rotor propellers.
It uses a combination of 8 brushless electric motors to carry a single pilot
weighing 187lb up to 63mph through the air.
Unfortunately, the batteries are still relatively low on capacity, with a flight time of 15 minutes
and a range of about 15 miles.
In saying that, it's perfect for getting to the office at
a blindingly fast pace – avoiding the morning peak hour standstill.
Lithium batteries are old news – they're expensive to make, hard to recycle,
and take a pretty massive toll on the environment.
The future is hydrogen, a fuel that is readily
available by using solar power to drive the electrolysis of seawater.
The MACA Carcopter is looking to take advantage of this promising renewable energy technology.
But first – is it a car, or is it a helicopter?
The answer lies somewhere in the middle – it's both.
This fantastic-looking contraption, weighing a little over 1,300lbs,
can speed a single passenger around a racetrack just as quickly as through the skies.
Using a similar rotor assembly to the hobby drone, the Carcopter uses
a set of 3 double-bladed propellers to get airborne while keeping noise to a minimum.
The manufacturer is hoping that no license will be necessary for operation,
thanks to semi-autonomous capability.
In 2012, a group of Toyota employees established the pro bono group
CARTIVATOR and began work on the SD-00 shortly after.
This was a scale model prototype of a flying car that the company had envisioned creating.
They successfully ran driving and hovering tests with the prototype only six months later.
Still, before they could work on the real deal, they needed to scale it up first.
And so, the production of the SD-01 had begun, and the new group, SkyDrive, would arise.
SkyDrive was the new edition of CARTIVATOR and
would oversee the production of the SD series, such as the new SD-01 project.
Information on this new prototype is sparse, but it was a very early
design with a metal frame, four wheels, two seats, a steering wheel, and four rotors.
However, tests were a success, so SkyDrive was able to raise funding,
shake hands, and make friends, so they leaped into making their goal a reality.
Now you know the story, so let's get to the good stuff; the SD-03
and the current project being developed, the SD-XX.
The SD-03 made its first public demonstration in 2020
and featured a much more commercial design than the previous prototypes.
The single-seat design resembles contemporary eVTOLs
and measures around thirteen feet long and eleven feet wide.
Four rotors are evenly split between each corner.
Each rotor is powered by its own motor as a failsafe mechanism.
A pilot flew for four minutes around one hectare of land during the demonstration
while a computer handled the flight stability and safety.
At this point, SkyDrive has shaped up to be the leader of Japan's eVTOL scene,
with many sponsorships such as Bandi Namco and Mitsubishi.
For a future project, Suzuki has teamed up with SkyDrive
for a special project that looks like it could be the SD-XX.
Suzuki will handle things like business and technology research and development
and help with mass-producing SkyDrive's next project.
This means SkyDrive is left to focus on creating the best compact, two-seater eVTOL possible.
Although the SD-XX is still in development, hence the placeholder name,
it still boasts a much more striking image than its predecessor, the SD-03.
It adds another seat to the mix for two people to enjoy a ride in the glass-covered cabin.
Because of its three wheels and land driving capabilities,
it technically falls into the category of a flying car rather than an eVTOL.
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