Latest Entry Into The eVTOL Urban Air Mobility Arena
New Future Transportation (NFT), which is based in Israel and has a research and development center in Mountain View, CA, has unveiled its fly-drive vehicle ASKA ... the latest entry in the eVTOL Urban Air Mobility arena.
The Vertical Flight Society reports that the ASKA, which is Japanese for "flying bird", was revealed June 7 at a conference in Israel. The company will have a manufacturing and quality assurance center in Japan.
NFT told VFS in an interview that the ASKA was "developed with a team of experts with vast experience in aeronautical and autonomous AI systems, including the development of the most advanced unmanned air vehicles in Israel and the U.S." The concept is for an autonomous flying car.
ASKA has foldable wings that store on top of the vehicle for operation on the road. It achieves flight using multiple ducted fans embedded in the body of the vehicle, and thrust for flight is provided with additional ducted fans on the wings.
In a press release, NFT said that the ASKA is the size of an SUV with a UAM range of up to 350 miles. The vehicle accommodates up to three people and runs on rechargeable batteries with a range extender (hybrid) propulsion system.
ASKA flies autonomously with its unique Sense & Avoid system. Sophisticated AI for detection & collision avoidance in the air, dealing with air challenges by sensing, building an awareness picture and choosing the best safety action in the flight path. ASKA has a unique IP for autonomous systems that validates and verifies these capabilities. The company plans to integrate it with existing autonomous driving systems to make ASKA fully autonomous in the air and on the road.
ASKA is available as a subscription-based model, in addition to an ownership model. On a subscription basis, customers can use ASKA whenever they need it. Owners could create a revenue stream by putting their vehicle into the fleet when they are not using it. Market demand for door to door travel: ASKA offers the comfort of all-in-one, door to door transportation, enabling you to drive, fly and drive till your final destination, without the need to change from a car, to an air taxi, and then a car again. ASKA’s affordability, combined with the advantage of door to door travel, will trigger extraordinary market demand.
NFT plans to work with with automotive industry players to manufacture ASKA. These automotive manufacturers have the capability for low-cost mass production and high quality. With ASKA, people have an affordable transportation solution that enables them to live and work wherever they like, reducing the cost of living and improving the quality of life.
Breakthrough technology delivers necessary thrust within a limited space. All ducted fans are within limited asset space, similar to the size of a car. Because ASKA is both drive and fly, it can be parked on the street/in a garage, and charge in existing charging stations. For takeoff and landing, minimal infrastructure is required (a launch pad of just 20 x 20 meters, or 65 X 65 feet). ASKA will drive in and out, whereas other flying aircraft require terminals, special parking spaces and charging stations.
While the target is a 100% electric propulsion system. The first ASKA model will have a hybrid system that works with current battery technology and still achieve our target ROI, and a hydrogen-based propulsion system is in development for the next generation of ASKA.
C-Net reports that initially, ASKA, will cost about $200,000. But mass production is forecast to bring that cost down to about $50,000.
(Images provided by NFT)
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