Inmarsat and U.S. startup Xwing have signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue development of a dedicated satellite communications terminal and associated services for autonomous aircraft.
IARPA's Resilience program aims to develop power sources to extend the function of vertical-takeoff unmanned aircraft by providing a burst of power for vertical landing at the end of a long flight.
Underlining that advanced air mobility has become a driver for new technologies in aviation, Honeywell has introduced Anthem, its fifth generation of integrated flight deck, with electric air taxi developers Lilium and Vertical Aerospace as launch customers.
French airship developer Flying Whales has selected Thales’ FlytX certifiable avionics suite and fly-by-wire flight control computer for its LCA60T large-capacity cargo airship.
Electric aviation can get started using technology adapted from the automotive market, but moving beyond small, short-range aircraft will require significant government and industry investment in battery research and development focused on the unique requirements of aviation.
NASA has awarded contracts to GE Aviation and MagniX for the Electric Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) program, which aims to mature megawatt-class electrified aircraft propulsion (EAP) technologies for regional and single-aisle transport aircraft from 2035 onwards.
Automaker Honda has launched development of an electric vertical-takeoff air taxi and reusable small satellite launcher in a push to enter new business areas by leveraging its core technology capabilities.
Emerging from stealth mode, U.S. startup Lyten is promoting potential aviation applications for its high energy-density lithium-sulfur battery technology for electric vehicles.
Rolls-Royce’s Spirit of Innovation electric aircraft came close to exceeding the speed record for electric aircraft on its first flight, company officials say.
Alaka’i Technologies is awaiting FAA approval to begin free-flight tests on a new prototype of its Skai zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell-powered electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft.
Alphabet subsidiary Wing has paused some of its drone package deliveries in the suburbs of Canberra, Australia, after one of its drones was attacked by a raven.
The U.S. startup has selected Toulouse as the location for its second design and engineering center, establishing a presence in Europe as Airbus advances its plans to field a hydrogen-fueled airliner by 2035.
The EBS system uses a 100-kW electric motor connected to the main gearbox which could provide up to 30 sec. of additional power in the event of an engine failure, allowing the pilot to make a safe auto-rotation landing.
Kaman is developing an unmanned cargo rotorcraft, the Kargo, to meet the anticipated U.S. Marine Corps requirement for an autonomous resupply vehicle to support distributed operations.
The grant supports an A$8 million program that will run to December 2023 which involves development and optimization of a quiet, efficient and lightweight propulsion system that increases the range and reduces the noise and cost of the Vertiia.
Airbus Helicopters says it has achieved much of what it wanted to get out of its flight test campaign of its CityAirbus advanced air mobility demonstrator.
Germany’s Becker Avionics and drone detect-and-avoid system developer Iris Automation have entered into an agreement to jointly develop a collision avoidance system for general aviation aircraft.
