Providing a new flying experience that combines safety and comfort

Next-generation drone company Aeronext Co., Ltd. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Keisuke Toji, Aeronext) announced a new concept “Flying Gondola” at CEATEC 2019 that changes the concept of air mobility and are pleased to announce that we have unveiled the prototype for Next MOBILITY^®. This “Flying Gondola” not only provides “safety” but also “comfort”, which is different from the conventional concept of air mobility that mainly focuses on the convenience of movement only. This represents a completely new concept that provides a new flying experience that allows you to enjoy the fun and freedom of flying while enjoying the scenery from the sky.

“Flying Gondola”　Next MOBILITY®　When landing

“Flying Gondola”　Next MOBILITY®　During horizontal flight

The prototype for Next MOBILITY^®, which embodies the new concept “Flying Gondola”, is a hybrid VTOL (vertical take-off and landing aircraft) with rotary and fixed wings and is equipped with 4D GRAVITY^®, Aeronext’s original center-of-gravity control technology which won the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at CEATEC 2018 last year, as well as the newly developed VTOL center-of-gravity control technology “Tiltbody^®”. In addition to the safety that is comes from stability, an indispensable feature for aircraft in which people ride, it is smooth and minimizes swaying at all times; during vertical take-off, transition from take-off to horizontal flight, during flight, and during vertical landing. Comfort comes from stability and maintaining level with the ground while the passengers sit. This is a concept like a futuristic ferris wheel gondola that flies in the sky freely; a totally new flying experience.

The first principle prototype Next MOBILITY^®, which was unveiled at CEATEC 2019 this time, is a single-passenger aircraft, but we are planning to announce an aircraft that can be used by multiple people in the future. The goal of “Flying Gondola” Next MOBILITY^® is the new possibility of an experience that allows multiple people to move while sharing a common space and time. Aeronext is convinced that it will be an indispensable means of transportation in the “sky movement” for next-generation mobile service system MaaS (Mobility as a Service).

Aeronext will continue to make progress toward our vision of the realization of a drone-based society and the economization of a new airspace, by delivering an unprecedented comfortable flight experience for the Future Air Movement Revolution.

CEATEC 2019 Information
• URL: https://www.ceatec.com/en/
• Dates: Tuesday, October 15, 2019 – Friday, October 18, 2019 10:00-17:00
• Place: Makuhari Messe
• Aeronext Booth: Smart X Area Hall2 D008

【Press Inquiries】
Aeronext Inc　Contact: Ito
Tel：03- 6455-0626    Email: info@aeronext.com

Reference

１．What is the new concept of air mobility “Flying Gondola”?
２．Overview of Tiltbody®, a new technology for controlling the center of gravity of VTOL
３．Outline, features, advantages, and specifications of the Next MOBILITY® Prototype 1/3 scale model
４．Toward a new economy in airspace

１．What is the new concept of air mobility “Flying Gondola”?

In December 2018, the Public-Private Council for the Sky Movement Revolution announced a roadmap for Japan: the ambitious goal of test flight in 2019 and practical application in 2023. The government has also attracted attention as the first country in the world to propose a roadmap. In order to realize air mobility from point to point for the purpose of alleviating traffic congestion in urban areas, it is necessary for aircraft to be electric, vertical take-off and landing, and pilot-less (autonomous driving). Many local governments and private businesses have their own efforts.

Safety that allows people to ride safely and securely is indispensable in realizing air mobility. Many research and development organizations and private companies have already pursued the safety of air mobility. However, in order to widely use it as a means of transportation, we believe that the key is to achieve both safety and comfort so that anyone can use easily without any reason to hesitate. In addition to simply transportation in the sky and replacing the driver, we also satisfy a fundamental desire of humans to fly. We believe that it is possible to enhance the social acceptability of air mobility if we can provide a satisfying flying experience. This is the value that the “flying gondola” can provides.

The new concept “Flying Gondola” is like a world in which a Ferris wheel gondola can fly freely in the sky. There is no need to manually fly the craft, and it is easy to get on and off. It provides a new flying experience that allows you to move in a comfortable environment. This is a completely different concept and approach from the “flying car” that has already been announced around the world.

２．Overview of Tiltbody®, a new technology for controlling the center of gravity of VTOL

“Tiltbody®” is a collective term for center-of-gravity control technology developed by Aeronext, which stabilizes take-off and landing of VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft). At the time of transition from take-off to horizontal flight, unlike in traditional aircraft where the rotor is fixed, a rotor arm that is movable (called the “propeller motor arm) moves for optimal flight performance, while keeping the cabin level with respect to the ground. This means comfort and safety are both maximized.

３．Outline, features, advantages, and specifications of the Next MOBILITY® Prototype 1/3 scale model

“Next MOBILITY®” is a prototype that embodies a new concept of air mobility: the “Flying Gondola,” Aeronext’s VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing Aircraft) machine equipped with both the 4D GRAVITY® center-of-gravity control technology and the newly announced VTOL center-of-gravity control technology Tiltbody®. This new Next MOBILITY® the first prototype, which is an actual 1/3 size model of a single-seat aircraft. In the future, we will also announce aircraft that can be used by multiple people.

“Flying Gondola”　Next MOBILITY®　When landing

【Characteristics】
・Vehicles with remote controlled automatic navigation that requires no pilot onboard
・Smooth and stable transition from takeoff to level flight
・Comfortable ride because the seat is kept level with the ground

【Advantages】
・Relax and enjoy conversation with passengers
・Easy to board even with a skirt or high heels
・The front left and right are glass-enclosed so you can enjoy the view from the sky
・Equipped with a main wing and a propeller to prevent an immediate crash even in an emergency.
・Reduced impact during landing

【Specifications】(1/3 size model)
Width 1,380mm × Length1,400mm × Height 700mm Weight 8,200g
Capacity: 1 passenger
Door: Double Door

４．Toward a new economy in airspace

Air Mobility is attracting attention around the world as a promising solution to solve societal issues such as traffic congestion and environmental damage caused by the explosive growth of population in urban areas. Furthermore, in Japan air mobility is an effective means not only for urban transportation infrastructure, but also for tourism and regional revitalization, economic stimulus, and disaster countermeasures. Aeronext is focused on the importance of lighter and cheaper aircraft in the early commercialization of air mobility, and the future, where air mobility will become an indispensable means of transportation with the next generation mobile service system MaaS (Mobility as a Service). We will strive to deliver VTOL with 4D GRAVITY® and Tiltbody®, and to create new airspace economies.

【About Aeronext Inc.】
In order to develop the optimal design for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and multicopter airframes, Aeronext researches Drone Architecture. Aeronext promotes drone development through 4D GRAVITY® Technology licensing business globally by building a strong patent portfolio for 4D GRAVITY®, a unique center-of-gravity control technology that improves stability, reliability, and thus efficiency and productivity.
*Aeronext Inc. Info: https://aeronext.com/company/

*Aeronext, the Aeronext Logo, 4D Gravity®, Tiltbody®, NextVR ™, Next Delivery®, Next Industry ®, Next VTOL ®, Next MOBILITY ® are all trademarks of Aeronext Inc. Other trademarks and logos herein are properties of their respective rights owners