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| Joby’s all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is pictured at the company's Electric Flight Base, located near Big Sur, California. NASA began flight testing with the aircraft as part of the agency’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Campaign, Monday. This test runs through Friday, Sept.10. Credits: Joby Aviation |
US-based space agency NASA has began flight testing with cab aggregator Uber -funded electric aircraft company Joby Aviation (Joby). Tagged as a Unicorn company, Joby Aviation is an aerospace transportation company developing electric aircrafts. Uber Technologies, Inc has invested a total of $125 million in Joby.
NASA has began testing Joby’s all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as part of the space agency’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) National Campaign, announced NASA.
Joby's aircraft has a maximum range of 150 miles on a single charge, can transport a pilot and four passengers at speeds of up to 200 mph.
This testing runs through Friday, Sept.10, at Joby’s Electric Flight Base located in California. This is the first time NASA will test an eVTOL aircraft as part of the campaign.
"In the future, eVTOL aircraft could serve as air taxis for those in cities and surrounding areas around the country, adding another mode of transportation for moving people and goods.", said NASA.
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In this round of testing, NASA will collect data from Joby’s eVTOL aircraft, which is intended to serve as a commercial passenger service in the future. Analyzing that data readies the AAM National Campaign to execute the first set of campaign tests, known as NC-1, slated for 2022, with more complex flight scenarios and other industry vehicles.
As the Joby aircraft flies planned test scenarios, the NASA team will collect information about how the vehicle moves, how the vehicle sounds, and how the vehicle communicates with controllers.
The team will deploy the mobile acoustics facility and construct an array of more than 50 microphones to measure the acoustic profile of Joby’s aircraft in different phases of flight.
NASA has also partnered with an another U.S. startup called Elroy Air, which is developing the world's first autonomous drone capable of delivering 300 to 500 pounds (227 Kg) of cargo over a 300-mile (483 Km) range, with no need for airport or electric charging station.
Coming back to Uber connection with Joby, Uber invested $75 million in Joby, in december last year, as part of a broader transaction involving the acquisition of Uber's the aerial ride-hailing division, Uber Elevate, by Joby Aviation and an expanded partnership between the two parent companies.
On August 11, Joby Aviation becomes first U.S.-based eVTOL company listed on public market to begin trading on NYSE.
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