Urban-Air Port is developing Vertiport for aircraft

Concept: British startup Urban-Air Port has developed Air-One, a heliport for manned and unmanned vehicles in Coventry. It is claimed to be the world’s first fully functional multimodal infrastructure hub to manage future electric air travel, such as flying taxis and autonomous drones.

The nature of the failure: Air-One is a radial vertiport with an area of ​​1579 m2, which is equipped with a passenger living room, retail pop-ups, cafes and freight logistics areas. It also includes a hydrogen air hangar for cars, a security check and a command and control center. The patented 56-foot circular final approach and take-off platform (FATO) supports zones that rise 19 feet into the air with a compact and synchronized lifting system. Future takeoffs and landings of electric vehicles (eVTOL) can be improved as a result. The port claims that the physical footprint is 60% smaller than in a conventional helipad. The sites can be set up in a matter of days, meet zero-emission standards and can operate completely off-grid. As the air mobility industry expands, the design makes it easy to move the heliport to other locations. Due to the design capabilities, the sites seem good for dealing with emergencies effectively. Drones and other eVTOLs can be quickly deployed at city airports to collect and transfer emergency materials, equipment and personnel where needed.

Outlook: The Air-One was developed in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Group, Coventry City Council and the UK Government to illustrate the possibilities of urban air mobility in the UK and around the world. The solution has the potential to eliminate congestion on the road, reduce environmental pollution and introduce a future with zero carbon emissions. It can be combined with EV and environmentally friendly public transport. In response to global demand, the startup plans to build more than 200 zero-emission facilities in the world over the next five years. Local authorities, including rapid response services, logistics operators and the military, may use helicopters. Urban-Air Port was one of 48 initiatives funded by the UK government of $ 315 million to “challenge future flights” along with the private sector. American smart mobility service provider Supernal has partnered with a startup. Hyundai’s fully electric eight-wheel drive concept car Supernal is on display at Air-One, which must be certified by 2024 before launching full production.

This article was originally published in Verdict.co.uk