Future regional transportation system mobility analysis. The introduction of electric hybrid electric propulsion technologies and increasing autonomy in aircraft and cars has the potential to…

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center awarded a $242,838.00 cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order to the National Institute of Aerospace Associates (NIA), a non-profit research and graduate education institute, to conduct analysis on the potential impacts of emerging electric and autonomous propulsion technologies on future regional transportation systems in the United States. The analysis aims to develop preliminary tools and conduct case studies to assess the market attractiveness and potential benefits, including reductions in travel time and cost, of using a combination of conventional and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for on-demand regional transportation services. This work does not have a set-aside designation and is being performed as a prime contract by NIA, with Purdue University as a subcontractor to assist in the regional transportation system analysis.

Future regional transportation system mobility analysis. The introduction of electric hybrid electric propulsion technologies and increasing autonomy in aircraft and cars has the potential to drastically affect the U.S.s regional transportation systems. The lower operating costs possible by utilizing aircraft with electric or hybrid electric propulsion systems as well as increasing cockpit automation may enable more widespread conventional air taxi aircraft (4 seats, on demand operations), new small commuter aircraft (up to 9 seats, scheduled or semi-scheduled operations), and/or other novel aircraft operating models (e.g., fractional ownership, all you can fly, etc.) to practically operate from the U.S.s more than 5,000 existing small and medium public-use airports, eliminating the need for new infrastructure development, potentially reinvigorating the local economies around these underutilized airports, and providing a new mode of regional transportation. Additionally, these technologies may also enable revolutionary new vertical takeoff and landing (vtol) aircraft that can operate in dense urban environments utilizing new vertiport infrastructure where conventional airports cannot be practically integrated. These novel, quiet vtol aircraft are envisioned to transport between 1 and approximately 6 passengers. Although much conversation is focused on these aircraft operating in a single metropolitan area, there is also the possibility of these vtol aircraft providing transportation between distinct urban areas or from rural areas directly into urban areas over ranges of up to a few hundred miles. At the same time as aircraft technologies are advancing, ground vehicles are also experiencing an influx of new technologies. Specifically, the increasing levels of automation in automobiles may lead to largely or fully automated ground vehicles that can be powered by electric or hybrid-electric drivetrains. These vehicles may effectively form an additional new mode of regional transportation by enabling passengers to remain productive or sleep during road trips and reducing energy costs. However, relatively little improvement in door-to-door travel time can likely be achieved by utilizing the existing ground infrastructure, which provides motivation for moving trips into the air.the major technologies necessary to enable the novel vtol air taxi aircraft, such as those discussed by uber, are the same technologies that can dramatically reduce the costs of small conventional takeoff and landing ctol aircraft used for the applications described above. Ctol aircraft, by nature of their operations, will avoid some of the potential regulatory, public perception, and technological barriers that urban vtol aircraft will face; consequently, ctol aircraft might be the more likely beneficiary of these technology developments. Proving these technologies on ctol aircraft may prove easier, and maturing these technologies for ctol aircraft will make their transition to vtol aircraft easier in many cases.exploiting electric propulsion, like using distributed high-lift propellers to enable high wing loadings and faster cruise speeds, will improve door-to-door travel time when using ctol aircraft in on-demand or scheduled operations.