Photo: Zuri
Attendees at this year's Dubai Airshow got the chance to explore an augmented reality (AR) presentation of an exciting hybrid-electric aircraft developed by a Czech startup.
Earlier this year, Zuri introduced an innovative VR (virtual reality) flight simulator (one-plus-four) at the AERO Show Friedrichshafen. It was presented as a unique five-person VR solution where a pilot and four passengers with VR headsets could enjoy a hands-on experience of flying Zuri's hybrid-electric aircraft.
A few months later, the Czech Republic startup took things one step further. At the recent Dubai Airshow, it went from VR to AR, offering an exciting augmented reality presentation of its aircraft.
Compared to the biggest players in this emerging industry, Zuri is still at the beginning. Although the company has been working on the most effective alternative to conventional aircraft since 2017, it unveiled its official hybrid-electric VTOL just a year ago.
It was a five-seat eVTOL designed for regional mobility, which meant it promised greater range compared to most electric aircraft that are only meant for short-range urban flights. The Zuri 2.0 combines state-of-the-art design with a hybrid powertrain in order to ensure an impressive range in excess of 435 miles (700 km) at a cruising speed of 186 mph (300 kph).
The aircraft is designed with four propulsion units in the front and four in the back that can tilt between horizontal and vertical positions, also ensuring full redundancy, which means that safety is guaranteed in the event of any component's failure.
The Zuri 2.0 will also sport highly advanced technology, including sensors with AI algorithms for object recognition and an autopilot system that interprets data from multiple sources, such as traffic and geographical terrain.
In addition to the extensive range, this alternative eVTOL promises the advantage of being infrastructure-independent. It only requires a 26 x 26 meters (85 x 85 feet) landing area, meaning it can easily bypass airports and land almost anywhere, even on a skyscraper rooftop.
This mid-range flying machine also promises an exceptionally low acoustic signature, which is one of the main features that place eVTOLs above helicopters. Although quiet operations are mainly expected from two-seat air taxis that will be operating in busy urban centers, it's ultimately a major asset for all future aircraft with regional operations.
For now, the Czech air mobility company continues to focus on extensive testing using both sub-scale models and its large-scale 11-meter (36-foot) demonstrator. In late 2021, this large-scale demonstrator successfully completed its first hover flight at an airport near Zbraslavice. It paved the way for a new testing phase that will bring this five-seat hybrid aircraft closer to reality. The Zuri eVTOL will be available in both passenger and cargo configurations for inter-city, medium-range commercial service.
A few months later, the Czech Republic startup took things one step further. At the recent Dubai Airshow, it went from VR to AR, offering an exciting augmented reality presentation of its aircraft.
Compared to the biggest players in this emerging industry, Zuri is still at the beginning. Although the company has been working on the most effective alternative to conventional aircraft since 2017, it unveiled its official hybrid-electric VTOL just a year ago.
It was a five-seat eVTOL designed for regional mobility, which meant it promised greater range compared to most electric aircraft that are only meant for short-range urban flights. The Zuri 2.0 combines state-of-the-art design with a hybrid powertrain in order to ensure an impressive range in excess of 435 miles (700 km) at a cruising speed of 186 mph (300 kph).
The aircraft is designed with four propulsion units in the front and four in the back that can tilt between horizontal and vertical positions, also ensuring full redundancy, which means that safety is guaranteed in the event of any component's failure.
The Zuri 2.0 will also sport highly advanced technology, including sensors with AI algorithms for object recognition and an autopilot system that interprets data from multiple sources, such as traffic and geographical terrain.
In addition to the extensive range, this alternative eVTOL promises the advantage of being infrastructure-independent. It only requires a 26 x 26 meters (85 x 85 feet) landing area, meaning it can easily bypass airports and land almost anywhere, even on a skyscraper rooftop.
This mid-range flying machine also promises an exceptionally low acoustic signature, which is one of the main features that place eVTOLs above helicopters. Although quiet operations are mainly expected from two-seat air taxis that will be operating in busy urban centers, it's ultimately a major asset for all future aircraft with regional operations.
For now, the Czech air mobility company continues to focus on extensive testing using both sub-scale models and its large-scale 11-meter (36-foot) demonstrator. In late 2021, this large-scale demonstrator successfully completed its first hover flight at an airport near Zbraslavice. It paved the way for a new testing phase that will bring this five-seat hybrid aircraft closer to reality. The Zuri eVTOL will be available in both passenger and cargo configurations for inter-city, medium-range commercial service.
Google News