“The Urban ATM prototype was initially tested during Eve’s Chicago Simulation Experience last fall to support the validation of foundational Urban ATM concepts and the integration of UAM into the ecosystem,” said the company. “The simulation, which used helicopters as a substitute for eVTOLs, performed tests of Urban ATM technology in combination with simulating ground services, infrastructure and equipment requirements, and vehicle and passenger journeys. The simulation provided essential feedback for Eve to advance the development of its commercial Urban ATM solutions through which customers will be able to enjoy tailored traffic management services that meet their needs and achieve efficient operations and resource optimizations.”
“Advanced Air Mobility have the potential to unlock significant new transportation options and economic opportunities for society. Eve recognizes that these developments need to be reviewed for safety and unification with the current airspace ecosystem to avoid potential logistical challenges,” said Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve. “By offering comprehensive solutions, our Urban ATM technology will provide critical traffic management services which will be essential to address these concerns. Eve’s Urban ATM will play a key role in enabling the global UAM market to scale and has a customer-centric design to address future operations’ pain points.”
Eve is engaging with Atech, Embraer’s Air Traffic Control technology and system integrator company, to support the development of the Urban ATM software solution. Eve will leverage Atech’s experience in developing aviation-grade products from the ATM systems in Brazil. To enable product adoption, Eve is leveraging partnerships with key organizations to share knowledge and multiple strengths that will empower stakeholders. The partnerships established thus far include Halo Aviation, BLADE India, Skyway, Bluenest, Volatus and Ferrovial. Eve has been conducting advisory groups with these partners to ensure that its software development aligns with their needs and will maximize the potential value of Urban ATM to their operations.
The company has also announced today it has completed propeller tests on its propeller rig in Brazil to measure aerodynamic performance and sound properties for modeling and development. The number and the overall characteristics of blades (torsion, shape, etc.) are critical in defining vibration, load and sound profile, as well as energy requirements of the eVTOL. Our engineers tested multiple models to improve efficiency and reduce sound footprint and operating costs.
“The company also recently began testing its vertical lift rotors aboard a new custom truck-mounted platform,” it said in a press release. “The mobile testbed was designed specifically to evaluate the performance of rotors during the transition phase of flight. Our engineering team has already begun testing and gathering data on the aerodynamic characteristics of rotors in forward flight. Eve’s eVTOL features a lift+cruise configuration with dedicated rotors for vertical flight and fixed wings to fly on cruise, with no components required to change position during flight. This configuration favors safety, efficiency, reliability, and certifiability while also reducing the cost of operation and additional maintenance, repair and overhaul costs.
“The results from the company’s recently completed wind-tunnel tests, along with the findings from the propeller and truck-mounted rig, are being used to increase the fidelity of the company’s flight simulator and fly-by-wire system. Eve is also utilizing learnings from ongoing enhanced Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) calculations to mature the analysis of the transition between the hover and cruise phases of the flight, among other tools. Eve expects to conclude the selection of main equipment suppliers in the first half of 2023 and start the assembly of our first full-scale eVTOL prototype during the second half of 2023, followed by the test campaign in 2024. Eve’s eVTOL is scheduled to be certified and enter service in 2026.”
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