The thought of scaling up a drone to hold passengers is not latest. Who amongst us hasn’t gazed up at a DJI Phantom and wished that we may very well be up there with it, soaring amongst the birds and transmitting data back to China?
Well, batteries are the obstacle standing between us and our glorious LaunchPad McQuack future. Current battery technology would offer limited range in a human-scale electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, even when burdened with only the skinniest of wealthy people on their method to Montauk. And in case you construct a machine like that without batteries, that is called a helicopter and it’s something that will certainly get you on the naughty list at your HOA if you land it in your backyard.
But Alaka’i Technologies in Hopkinton, Mass., thinks that the answer to this conundrum is hydrogen fuel cells, which permit use of electrical motors but offer range and refueling speed more in keeping with your friendly neighborhood gas station. Its debut vehicle, the Skai, claims about 400 miles of range (or 4 hours of flight time), with capability for five passengers or 1,000 kilos, whichever comes first.
Top speed is a strangely specific at 118 mph and refueling takes lower than 10 minutes. With six rotors and multiple fuel cells, Alaka’i is constructing in layers of redundancy throughout the flight systems. Nonetheless, there’s also an airframe parachute, for that unbeatable “we have a parachute” peace of mind.
The Skai, which was designed by BMW Group’s Designworks studio, definitely looks futuristic, spare, and sleek. Alaka’i has initiated their test program to get certified with the FAA, and after that they see plenty of possibilities for the Skai: passenger flight, emergency medical response, cargo delivery.
OK, mainly many of the things you may do with a helicopter, but presumably without as much noise and with only water as a direct emission (the indirect emissions will rely on the electricity source behind the hydrogen production). Plans call for a piloted version first, then followed by autonomous models.
If the concept of a hydrogen-powered autonomous electric flying machine strikes you as far-fetched, do not forget that a couple of years ago everybody pointed after they saw a drone and now no one cares.
That is the day Alaka’i envisions: when a Skai flies by and no one looks up.