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The flight process is simple and backed by a triply redundant autopilot system.
The electric mobility sector is ever-expanding, with planes, trains, buses, cars, and bikes all making the list in promoting emissions-free travel. Now, we can begin adding a new tier, exemplified by the single-passenger Hexa aircraft.
A recent TikTok video by Supercar Blondie (@supercarblondie) shared a firsthand experience with this electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle made by Lift Aircraft, where they added the tagline: “Never experience a traffic jam again with this.”
@supercarblondie Never experience a traffic jam again with this 😂 #drone#future#flying♬ original sound – Supercar Blondie
That may be a bit of hyperbole, as the one-seated hover will have restricted test zones for civilians, at least for the time being. However, the company stated that it won R&D contracts with the U.S. Air Force in 2020 to advance its air ambulance and autonomous cargo retrieval programs.
The design has a central, single-seater pod with 18 independent electric motors whirring overhead to provide lift. Each has its own separate battery for fault tolerance, and the company claims the Hexa can land safely on both land and water with only six of them running.
The flight process is simple and backed by a triply redundant autopilot system. After doing flight-check procedures on the tablet-based dashboard, a quick tap will have you automatically raised to 35 feet, where you can take control with the 3-axis joystick.
Lift Aircraft began development in 2017 and quickly made progress that led to its first manned flight in 2018. It’s not the only eVTOL that’s being developed; however, with companies such as Australia’s Vertiia already making untethered flight tests. That vehicle aims to carry passengers, while Hexa aims to bring the solo flight experience to more people.
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