Blockchain technology group Vimana Global is developing what it intends to be a family of eVTOL aircraft under its Autonomous Aerial Vehicle program. Although the aircraft vary in size, each shares a core platform of fore and aft tilting wings and four electric propellers powered by electric or hybrid-electric motors. The aircraft are meant to serve a variety of applications, including cargo, emergency response and commuter transportation. The company, which has a specialization unmanned aircraft traffic management, says the AAVs will be able fly in adverse weather conditions, have detect-and-avoid capability and be able to autonomously fly "coordinated flight paths."
The Vimana program is using modular a modular approach to designing the AAVs, meaning the aircraft can be shipped to its intended destination in parts and assembled on-site.
The company is currently developing single-seat and four-seat versions of its AAV for passenger transportation. It had a full-scale mockup of the four seat version on display at the 2018 World Economic Forum. The company has since published a short video showing a successful flight test.
Using Vimana's blockchain technology, the company believes it will be able to offer an alternative to Uber's proposed Uber Air operating model.