The Promise and Progress of Advanced Air Mobility

An important time for advanced air mobility

Although the last few years proved to be pivotal for advanced air mobility (AAM), with vehicle manufacturers and regulators alike taking monumental steps toward making the AAM dream a reality, it is still very much a bourgeoning industry. All the progress in recent years set the stage for a busy next few years in terms of regulatory development, infrastructure, certification, and technological advancements.

While there are still challenges to overcome, the progress made in electric propulsion, battery technology and autonomy offers a strong foundation for the development of a thriving AAM industry.

The development of efficient electric propulsion systems provides a significant breakthrough in AAM. Electric motors offer quiet operation, reduced emissions, and improved energy efficiency compared to traditional combustion engines. This technology makes eVTOL aircraft a viable option for urban air transportation.

Advances in battery technology play a crucial role in enabling electric aviation. We’ve seen an increase in energy density of batteries that will continue to increase, allowing for longer flight ranges and increased payload capacities.

The progress in artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomy is paving the way for autonomous operation of AAM vehicles. AI algorithms can process vast amounts of data from sensors, enabling real-time decision-making, obstacle avoidance, and navigation. Autonomy brings enhanced safety and reliability to AAM systems, making them more practical for everyday use. It unlocks new ways to operate and new business models that will make flying even safer and more accessible than it is today.

Next-generation transportation requires next-generation technology

The teams designing and building these new aircraft are trying to do something novel in a fast time frame, and Honeywell is here to help. They value most the flexibility we offer to meet their moving timelines, combined with our ability to speed their time to market. All without compromise to safety.

Honeywell is adapting our proven platform offerings to address specific urban air mobility (UAM) or uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) needs. We offer standard but customizable product families to reduce costs for customers building eVTOL vehicles, which is critical during their current phase of development. We also provide system integration and certification capabilities. For us, it’s a partnership approach to eVTOL certification. Certification is about more than just a technology in a box. It requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses experience, iteration, integration, and unwavering support.

We possess extensive industry expertise that positions us as leaders in eVTOL certification. With a deep understanding of the ever-changing demands of the certification landscape, we collaborate closely with our customers to navigate the complexities and ensure their success.

To better serve the specific needs of the AAM industry, we also established a dedicated AAM business unit. This specialized unit combines our proven expertise in certification with a start-up mentality, fostering agility, innovation, and adaptability.

AAM industry is rapidly evolving, with significant advancements in electric propulsion, battery technology, and autonomy. These developments lay the foundation for a thriving industry, and Honeywell is at the forefront of this progress. Our proven platform offerings, system integration, and certification capabilities, combined with our dedicated AAM business unit, make us the ideal partner for OEMs building eVTOL vehicles.