eVTOL

Environmental and Economic Benefits of eVTOLs

Environmental Benefits of eVTOLs:

Operated by electric propulsion systems fueled by batteries, electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOLs) aircraft stand as a beacon of sustainability, emitting zero carbon emissions during their operation. In stark contrast to conventional aircraft reliant on fossil fuels, this emission reduction holds tremendous promise to address the aviation sector’s ecological footprint. Industry experts have established that eVTOLs hold the potential to slash greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60% as compared to traditional helicopters (Taneja, 2022). Moreover, a study by the Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM) recommends the renovation of underutilized or unused heliports especially those with close proximity to hospitals since unlike helicopters, eVTOLs are not known for noise nuisance (Herman et al., 2020).

Economic Advantages of eVTOLs:

Beyond their environmental virtues, eVTOLs also present a compelling economic case. The integration and proliferation of eVTOL technology can usher employment opportunities across diverse sectors such as manufacturing, operations, and maintenance. Moreover, eVTOLs could revolutionize urban mobility by bypassing road congestion and delivering an efficient, flexible mode of transportation. The outlook is bright, with a Morgan Stanley study projecting that the global eVTOL market will reach an astounding $1.5 trillion by 2040, underlining the substantial economic potential of these electric aircraft (Bridgelal et al., 2023). This growth trajectory may pave the way for approximately 100,000 job opportunities within the United States alone.

Market Potential:

The canvas of the eVTOL industry is vast, with projections hinting at substantial market potential in various global regions. By 2030, the eVTOL industry in the Bay Area alone could amass a valuation of $10 billion, while the entirety of California could witness a staggering $20 billion valuation (Schadlow et al., 2021). Parallel forecasts indicate that the US market could be valued at approximately $50 billion. The eVTOL industry’s global value is poised to reach a significant $100 billion by 2030, underscoring the burgeoning demand for this pioneering mode of transportation (Wiedemann et al., 2023).

Comparative Analysis of Aviation Methods:

Drawing parallels between established aviation methodologies and eVTOLs unveils distinct advantages and disadvantages. Traditional aviation, forged over time, boasts reliability and cost-effectiveness (Biehle, 2022). However, its conspicuous downside lies in emissions perpetuating climate change and noise pollution impacting local communities. In contrast, eVTOLs shine as environmentally benign alternatives, emitting zero emissions and operating with minimal noise disruption.

References

Biehle, T. (2022). Social sustainable urban air mobility in Europe. Sustainability14(15), 9312. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9312

Bridgelall, R., Askarzadeh, T., & Tolliver, D. D. (2023). Introducing an efficiency index to evaluate eVTOL designs. Technological Forecasting and Social Change191, 122539. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004016252300224X

Herman et al. (2020). Economic Impact of Advanced Air Mobility. AAM White Paper Series Part II. http://www.pnwer.org/uploads/2/3/2/9/23295822/economic_impact_assesment_-_caam_-_v1.0.pdf

Schadlow, N., Herman, A., & Helwig, B. (2021). Powering Innovations: A Strategic Approach to America’s Advanced Battery Technology. Hudson Institute. http://media.hudson.org.s3.amazonaws.com/Hamilton%20Commission_Powering%20Innovation.pdf

Taneja, N. K. (2022). Airimagination: extending the airline business boundaries. Taylor & Francis. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=5VF-EAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT12&dq=eVTOLs+could+potentially+curtail+greenhouse+gas+emissions+by+up+to+90%25+in+comparison+to+helicopters&ots=UYNQsSX4W2&sig=tF59XLKAe8f3snjBqrkD5Rs_mYo

Wiedemann, M., Vij, A., & Banerjee, R. (2023). Validating the benefits of increased drone uptake for Australia: geographic, demographic and social insights. https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2023-04/apo-nid322458.pdf


eVTOL

Developing The Future of Mobility

San José, CA

The rapid advancement of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology is revolutionizing urban transportation and mobility. As the San Francisco Bay Area continues to be a global hub for innovation and technology, the need to develop a robust eVTOL charging infrastructure has become imperative. This Executive Summary outlines the key reasons for investing in eVTOL charging infrastructure in the Bay Area.

1. Emerging Urban Air Mobility Ecosystem: The Bay Area is a frontrunner in embracing cutting-edge transportation solutions. The integration of eVTOLs into the existing urban air mobility ecosystem holds the potential to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce emissions, and provide efficient point-to-point transportation.

2. Environmental Sustainability: The Bay Area has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and reducing carbon emissions. Transitioning to electric-powered eVTOLs aligns with regional environmental goals and can significantly decrease the carbon footprint of urban transportation, promoting cleaner air and a healthier environment.

3. Economic Growth and Innovation: Investing in eVTOL charging infrastructure fosters economic growth by attracting eVTOL manufacturers, technology developers, and related businesses to the Bay Area. This creates high-quality jobs, drives innovation, and enhances the region’s global competitiveness.

4. Congestion Mitigation: Traffic congestion is a major challenge in the Bay Area, resulting in productivity loss and increased travel times. eVTOLs have the potential to bypass ground congestion, reducing travel time and enhancing overall urban mobility.

5. First-Mover Advantage: By establishing comprehensive eVTOL charging infrastructure early, the Bay Area can position itself as a global leader in urban air mobility. This positioning attracts investment, encourages research and development, and sets a precedent for other regions to follow.

6. Multi-Modal Connectivity: An integrated eVTOL network complements existing transportation modes, offering seamless multi-modal connectivity. Passengers can conveniently transition between ground and air transportation, further enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall transportation system.

7. Public-Private Partnerships: The development of eVTOL charging infrastructure requires collaboration between government bodies, private companies, and regulatory agencies. Establishing public-private partnerships ensures efficient utilization of resources and expertise, expediting infrastructure deployment.

8. Enhanced Emergency Response: eVTOLs have the potential to revolutionize emergency medical services, allowing for rapid and direct transportation of medical personnel and equipment to critical locations. Investing in eVTOL charging infrastructure supports the development of this lifesaving capability.

9. Tourism and Aesthetics: An advanced urban air mobility network can become a tourist attraction in itself, showcasing the region’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Well-designed charging infrastructure can also enhance the urban aesthetic and contribute to urban beautification efforts.

In conclusion, the San Francisco Bay Area stands at the brink of a transformative opportunity with the emergence of eVTOL technology. Developing a comprehensive eVTOL charging infrastructure aligns with the region’s values, drives economic growth, addresses transportation challenges, and solidifies its position as a global innovation leader. By embracing this forward-looking initiative, the Bay Area can shape the future of urban transportation while reaping a multitude of social, economic, and environmental benefits. San José, California-based startup BrainChild Innovation is developing the future of mobility.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Reach out or Comment and let us know!

BrainChild Innovation is competing in AlphaPilot – Lockheed Martin 2019 AI Drone Racing Innovation Challenge!

AlphaPilot is the first large-scale open innovation challenge of its kind focused on advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy.

BrainChild Innovation is a startup located in the San Francisco Bay Area, California made up of a group of software and hardware engineer experts with backgrounds in robotics, aerospace, computer vision, neural networks, and image classification. 

As a member of NVIDIA’s Inception startup accelerator, we have familiarized ourselves with industry-leading Jetson AGX autonomous system hardware and software to be used in the competition. 

Our goal for this competition is to challenge ourselves and refine our understanding for industrialized uses of autonomous drone technology. If you have a use for an autonomous drone in your business and would like to partner or you want to sponsor our AlphaPilot team, please feel free to email us directly!

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Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles with AI and IoT Capabilities Will Improve Asset Inspections

Unmanned aerial vehicles with AI and IoT (Internet of Things) capabilities are changing the way companies maintain their physical assets. From wind turbines and solar panels to forests and agriculture, drones that can evaluate assets and send actionable information to professionals are changing the game for Nondestructive Testing. In reality, they have already won.

We haven’t arrived at the point where unmanned aerial vehicles with AI and IoT capabilities are the only set of technologies used to do asset inspections, but soon we will be. Just consider the rapid advances in technology that we have witnessed in the last 15 years — cell phones, civilian drones, smart cars, and wearable tech. The surge in technology is obvious, but what is less apparent is how all of these technologies are working together.

What the confluence of technology and AI allows us to do is to streamline inspection and maintenance in an accelerated manner. Many companies, government agencies, and other entities already use or are thinking about using, drones for asset inspections. The question is: are they using, or considering to use, drones equipped with AI and IoT? Having a foundation of these advanced systems is the difference between a professional assessing real-time data collection from potentially multiple drones, and being able to compare that data against an index of previously gathered information, and a situation where drone data needs to be uploaded and analyzed individually after collection.   

Advanced drone use and data collection are already being used by the highest levels of scientific endeavors; NASA is sending unmanned spacecraft to land on and observe other planets tens of millions of miles from Earth. Given the rapid advancement of technology, it is only a matter of time before similar methods of data acquisition reach the commercial market. Utility companies could inspect their assets after a storm, or a state agency could fight forest fires. Most of the necessary technologies to accomplish such tasks already exist but companies have been slow to adopt their use.

 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Automation overtook the automotive industry and AI machine learning is primed to be the next large takeover for the commercial world. Companies will soon no longer need to pour through an ocean of spreadsheets when AI can analyze and decipher data much faster than any human, and subsequently, provide only the most pertinent points of information. Combining drones for data collection is a logical next step for data analysis since a drone can interface with databases remotely and compare key points of interest. This emergence of AI and drones using IoT can revolutionize how asset inspections are performed all over the world.

BrainChild Innovation is the vanguard of unmanned aerial vehicles with AI and IoT.
We are that confluence of technology.

We’re looking for investors to scale our prototypes.
Reach out to us today.