AI and Innovation Pioneering the Future of Urban Air Mobility

Aerospace technology advancements are transforming urban transportation by emphasizing sustainability, electrification, and miniaturization, and are leading to the development of unmanned air systems and VTOL aircraft to alleviate congestion.

In the rapidly evolving world of aerospace technology, new and advanced technologies are driving significant advancements that are set to reshape urban transportation. Air mobility as we know it today is transforming with a strong focus on sustainability, electrification, and miniaturization, while also enhancing fuel efficiency in avionics. There is a significant focus on the development of unmanned air systems (UAS) and Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft to decongest urban mobility.

Jayaraj Rajapandian, Head of Avionics, Transportation, Tata Elxsi, tells FinancialExpress.com that these solutions are both technologically advanced and environmentally conscious. For instance, “the electrification of aerospace systems has also helped achieve sustainability in aviation. By integrating sensor fusion, situation awareness, AI and ML for autonomous navigation and control, we have been able to enhance aerospace systems,” he says.

VTOL: A Game-Changer in Urban Mobility

“The human desire to fly like a bird is not fully realized yet. The aerospace industry primarily relies on take-off from runways, which have rules strongly associated with aircraft’s aerodynamics and infrastructure requirements like runways. Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft are specialized vehicles designed to ascend, descend, and hover without the need for traditional runways,” he adds.

In contrast to conventional aeroplanes, vertical take-off operates on different principles, focusing on generating a high thrust-to-weight ratio to create lift. This method uses a rotor wing to produce high thrust, aided by stabilizers for smooth horizontal and vertical flight. Vertical take-off and landing eliminate the need for complex landing gear required for traditional runways and facilitate efficient landing at remote places, providing seamless mobility solutions, Rajapandian explains.

There is no doubt that VTOL aircraft could significantly decongest urban transportation by offering a new dimension of travel above the crowded streets. “However, VTOL by design, is always constrained by weight, which limits its speed and endurance. Helicopters are typically used for short flight durations and a select few applications in defence. With increasing congestion in urban areas, the technology maturity achieved in VTOL can accelerate the alternate solution for logistics and urban mobility. It can offer short-duration flights for Air Taxis, Air ambulances, City Patrolling, emergency services, etc. VTOL helps alleviate road congestion and complements current city transportation solutions,” he elaborates.

If augmented with a green fuel ecosystem for urban air mobility, it provides a completely sustainable solution. The impact would be seen in eCommerce, healthcare, and urban transportation businesses along with city administration services. Additionally, by operating from compact vertiports rather than large airports, VTOLs could be seamlessly integrated into urban landscapes, reducing travel time and improving the overall efficiency of urban mobility. Specifically, Tata Elxsi has developed an in-house multirotor UAV from the ground up which in consonance with VTOL capabilities, sensor fusion and scalability brings to the market a wave of technological advancements.

Infrastructural Requirements for VTOL: Is India There Yet?

Rajapandian suggests four main categories as infrastructural requirements to enhance air mobility, which are Civil Infrastructure, Technology Infrastructure, Regulations, and the Stakeholder’s Ecosystem. “Civil infrastructure involves significant investment in building Vertiports within city limits, where passengers can gather to utilize air taxis. These vertiports could be constructed in public spaces like metro stations, large commercial buildings, hospitals, and state-owned campuses,” he says. Secondly, technology infrastructure includes airborne systems, ground-based software for monitoring and regulating traffic flow, mobile applications for passengers, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) investments. The systems engage advanced AI/ML analytics for effective routing from the ground, airborne situation awareness for traffic conditions, collision avoidance, and autonomous flight in all weather conditions, in addition to traditional avionics, he further explains.

Thirdly, safety and airworthiness regulations are the same as those for commercial air traffic, but the involvement of various stakeholders makes it more complicated. The city administration plays a critical role in overseeing the urban landscape, including the city’s airspace. Segregating airspace for commercial, defence, and urban air mobility operations is pivotal to ensure seamless operation. “Engaging all stakeholders through a consortium is the fourth aspect, which will be vital to defining the regulations and operations standards. European unions have outlined a framework to shape regulations, first amongst many in UAM. This is a critical challenge to address for urban air mobility to reach its full potential,” he suggests.

As far as India is concerned, Rajapandian believes VTOL technology could be particularly beneficial in cities with dense populations and limited space for traditional transportation infrastructure. With the rise of smart cities and urban development initiatives, VTOL could help bridge connectivity gaps, especially in areas that are hard to reach by conventional means. “Aeronautical institutes in India are actively engaged in defining the regulatory framework and industry collaboration. The initial adoption of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is expected to be seen in metropolitan areas, especially in the Air Ambulance sector and package delivery logistics. Hospitals are likely to be among the first to embrace UAM due to the urgent need to tackle traffic congestion,” he adds.

“The public is also expected to rapidly adapt to UAM, considering the current strained infrastructure. Cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Kolkata are anticipated to witness the development of UAM infrastructure in the coming decades,” he suggests. At the same time, without addressing sustainability, the solution would face tremendous pressure from regulation, against carbon emissions targets, he says. Privacy challenges are also an emerging concern, as urban air mobility airspace could be close to residential complexes. Noise pollution and privacy both require significant attention before a full-fledged solution can be implemented.