A patent filing for Alef Aeronautics’ Model A flying car peels back the curtain on its inner workings. [Courtesy: Alef Aeronautics]
Key Takeaways:
This "Patent Pending" column reviews recent patents in advanced air mobility (AAM) and drone technology, offering a look into future aviation innovations.
Notable vehicle-related patents include Alef Aeronautics' flying car with a rotating pilot capsule and Beta Air's simplified hover-and-thrust control system for eVTOL aircraft.
Infrastructure and control innovations feature Istanbul University's modular urban drone landing platforms, NEC Corp.'s hand-gesture drone control, and Rhombus Systems' low-altitude radar for safe beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.
Other patents describe advanced applications such as AT&T's automated 5G "Cell on Wings" drones, Toyota's roadside assistance drones, and Kia's takeoff charging system for air taxis.
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.
