Giving Flying Taxis Autonomous Flight
BAE & Supernal Partner on eVTOL Flight Control System
Source: Supernal
Developing the Technological Brains of Flying Taxis
Aerospace and defense technology leader BAE Systems and eVTOL developer Supernal (owned by Hyundai) have formed a new partnership to develop a highly advanced flight control system for Supernal's flying taxis to fly autonomously. In essence, they are developing the technological brains to enable flying taxis to self-fly. The system will be a lightweight, cutting edge, fly-by-wire system usable for both eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles), advanced air mobility vehicles (AAMs) and large, regional, electric aircraft. The architecture will directly control the electric vehicles during flight, takeoff and landing. BAE says that it is harnessing its expertise in electrification and flight-critical systems to advance "sustainable aviation".
Formidable Partnership of Flight Control, Aviation and Automotive Expertise
This new partnership is a powerful one for the future of urban air mobility. For the past 40 years, BAE Systems has designed and received certification for flight critical, fly-by-wire systems for commercial and military aircraft, including vertical takeoff platforms. Supernal is developing a family of electric flying vehicles that will carry passengers to their intracity destinations through a network of ground hubs called vertiports. Importantly, Supernal is integrating its parent company Hyundai's automotive expertise in electrification, robotics, autonomy and smart manufacturing to bring its vehicles to market.
Supernal Technology
The flying taxi that Supernal is developing has six electric powered rotors, highly advanced battery technology, 5 seats, takes off and lands vertically, is all-electric and can be piloted or flown autonomously via the next-generation flight-control system that BAE and Supernal are developing. BAE US operations are headquartered in Arlington, VA. Supernal is headquartered in Washington, DC. They hope to bring their next-G, self-flying eVTOL to market in 2028.
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