Skyportz today offered its IP at no fee to companies in the USA seeking to tap into the Trump initiative to dominate the electric air taxi market globally.
The modular vertipad patent addresses two of the standout issues for Advanced Air Mobility in urban locations – amelioration of downwash/outwash and fire suppression.
“Downwash and outwash have been highlighted by the FAA in January in their Engineering Brief 105A where the American air regulator indicated that vertipads will need to have a wind safety zone beyond the landing surface,” said the company in a press statement. “This safety zone has only been defined as where the windspeed exceeds 34.5 mph.
“With multiple height settings for the FATO landing surface and surrounds and an adjustable blast screen, this new design will enable airports to adjust the settings for particular aircraft types to maximise the downdraft amelioration features. Reduced wind speeds mean smaller footprint requirements for safe operations, enabling multiple pads side by side.
“In the unlikely event of a fire, this patent enables vertiport operators to extinguish any battery fire conclusively and quickly through full immersion in water in a pit below the vertipad (all water is contained to prevent environmental contamination).
“The alternative at the moment is to wait until the battery thermal runaway concludes – which could leave an airport shut down for a day or more.”
Skyportz opened a retail fundraise this week to support the further research and development to be conducted by Swinburne University and Sophrodyne Aerospace, the global leader in eVTOL downwash and outwash modelling.
https://www.birchal.com/company/skyportz
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