A patent filing for Alef Aeronautics’ Model A flying car peels back the curtain on its inner workings. [Courtesy: Alef Aeronautics]
Key Takeaways:
The article presents a monthly roundup of diverse advanced air mobility (AAM) and drone-related patents, offering a peek into future flying innovations.
Highlighted patents include designs for a "flying car," modular drone landing platforms for urban areas, and a drone remote control operated by hand gestures.
Innovations also focus on enhancing drone operations, such as a low-altitude radar system for safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights and automated routing for drone fleets.
Future applications for drones and eVTOL aircraft explored in patents include mobile 5G coverage, roadside assistance, and simplified hover-and-thrust control systems, alongside innovative charging solutions.
Much of the action in the advanced air mobility space happens behind closed doors. Unless you’re friends with an Amazon Prime Air engineer or a U.S. military flight tester, the inner workings of modern flying innovation are opaque at best.
But every now and then, innovators give us a peek behind the curtain—if you know where to look.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
