What are eVTOL Aircrafts?

Q Why is it in News ?

A The Union Civil Aviation Ministry is exploring the possibility of inviting manufacturers of Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft to set up base in India.

Q What is eVTOL?

A 

• EVTOL aircraft is one that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically.
• Most eVTOLs also use what is called as distributed electric propulsion technology which means integrating a complex propulsion system with the airframe.
• There are multiple motors for various functions; to increase efficiency; and to also ensure safety.
• It works on electric propulsion based on progress in motor, battery, fuel cell and electronic controller technologies.
• It is also fuelled by the need for new vehicle technology that ensures urban air mobility (UAM).

Q What are the Features of eVTOL ? 

A 

• eVTOL is emerging as a runway independent technological solution” for the globe’s transportation needs.
• There are an estimated 250 eVTOL concepts or more being fine-tuned to bring alive the concept of UAM.
• Some of these include the use of multi-rotors, fixed-wing and tilt-wing concepts backed by sensors, cameras and even radar.
• The key word here is “autonomous connectivity”. Some of these are in various test phases.
• In short, eVTOLs have been likened to “a third wave in an aerial revolution”; the first being the advent of commercial flying, and the second, the age of helicopters.

Q What are the developments in powering eVTOLs?

A 

• The roles eVTOLs adopt depends on battery technology and the limits of onboard electric power.
• Power is required during the key phases of flight such as take-off, landing and flight (especially in high wind conditions).
• There is a “Diamond Nuclear Voltaic (DNV) technology” using minute amounts of carbon-14 nuclear waste encased in layered industrial diamonds to create self-charging batteries.
• There are some industry experts who are questioning the use of only batteries and are looking at hybrid technologies such as hydrogen cells and batteries depending on the flight mission.

Q What are the challenges?

A 

• As the technology so far is a mix of unpiloted and piloted aircraft, the areas in focus include “crash prevention systems”.
• There are also issues such as ensuring safety in case of power plant or rotor failure.
• Aircraft protection from cyberattacks is another area of focus.
• A third area is in navigation and flight safety and the use of technology when operating in difficult terrain, unsafe operating environments, and also bad weather.