Volocopter

Volocopter is a Germany-based air transportation company that specializes in building electronic vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles that resemble helicopters. It is building an autonomous air taxi that is meant to be used in urban areas.

The company has three products: the VoloCity, the VoloPort and the VoloDrone.

The VoloCity is the company's eVTOL and has been developed according to the requirements of the European Aviation Safety Agency. It is powered by electricity through nine rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and has 18 rotors enabling it to take flight. Each rotor is powered by an individual Brushless DC electric motor (BLDC), meaning the VoloCity has 18 motors total. It is controlled by software assistance systems as well as a pilot. Two passengers can ride in the VoloCity, including hand baggage. The maximum take-off mass for the VoloCity is 900 kg with an operating weight at empty of 700 kg. The VoloCity's range is 35 km with a maximum airspeed of 110 km/h. The range and maximum airspeed are calculated approximations which have not been tested in flight.

The VoloPort is where the vehicle can take-off and land. It has a waiting area for customers, who can book a ride via the company's mobile application. Other services that can take place at the port include battery swaps and charging, maintenance, and safety and security. As of 2019, the company plans to debut the VoloCity and VoloPort in Singapore.

The VoloDrone shares a lot of features with the existing VoloCity platform. The unmanned, fully-electric drone is envisioned as a utility drone, capable of 200 kg payloads with a 40 km range. The applications for such a drone include agriculture, logistics and delivery, heavy lifting for infrastructure and disaster relief or humanitarian aid.

Volocopter, as of January 2020, is not generating revenue. Instead they rely on funding for their development. Once they are selling products, Volocopter will generate revenue through the manufacture of their VoloCity's, the sale of VoloCity's to individuuals, running the air taxi service, building VoloPorts, maintaining both VoloCity's and VoloPorts, and the sale of VoloDrones.

Volocopter's corporate partners include Intel's Ascending Technologies, Daimler AG, DG Flugzeugbau, and John Deere