AAM | UAM | eVTOL

Post 13 of 260
January 10, 2022greenpowerguy

AAM is a new concept of air transportation using electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to move people and cargo between places not currently or easily served by surface transportation or existing aviation modes. EVTOL aircraft may be powered by hybrid electric systems, batteries or potentially hydrogen fuel cells.

Sometimes AAM is also called urban air mobility (UAM), although potential applications for this form of transportation could extend beyond high-density urban centers. These aircraft, which will range in size from single-passenger aircraft to large shuttles, will bring accessibility to cities, underserved communities and geographically distant regions.

Development of infrastructure in support of AAM is underway in cities today, with AAM expected to become an increasingly important part of our transportation system in the next several years.

What is Urban Air Mobility (UAM)?

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) envisions a safe and efficient aviation transportation system that will use highly automated aircraft that will operate and transport passengers or cargo at lower altitudes within urban and suburban areas.

UAM will be composed of an ecosystem that considers the evolution and safety of the aircraft, the framework for operation, access to airspace, infrastructure development, and community engagement.

What is Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)?

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) builds upon the UAM concept by incorporating use cases not specific to operations in urban environments, such as:

  • Commercial Inter-city (Longer Range/Thin Haul)
  • Cargo Delivery
  • Public Services
  • Private / Recreational Vehicles

What is Electric Vertical Take-Off Landing (eVTOL)?

An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is a variety of VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land, vertically. This technology came about thanks to major advances in electric propulsion (motors, batteries, fuel cells, electronic controllers) and the growing need for new vehicles for urban air mobility, (air taxi).  Prototypes are being developed by aircraft companies such as Boing, Airbus, Embraer, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and NASA.