Embraer and Eve Evaluate Autonomous eVTOL Flight Technologies

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

Aerospace company Embraer recently finished conducting a series of experimental flight operations with its new autonomous system technologies, designed to enable safe autonomous operations in urban environments. The flights were carried out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in order to observe how the new technologies performed under real flight conditions.

Working with its subsidiary Eve UAM, LLC, as well as partners Daedalean, Iris Automation and Near Earth Autonomy, Embraer examined various scenarios for take-off, climb, cruise, approach and landing flight phases. Traditional piloted helicopters from Eve partner Helisul Aviação were deployed to collect data and evaluate the technologies in real-time as part of the Embraer Autonomous Systems project (“Project EASy”).

Starting with Crewed Operation: Moving Towards Autonomous eVTOL Flight

“This project allowed us to evaluate technologies in real-time and also collect lots of data that will later be used in simulations,” said Embraer Head of Autonomous Systems Julio Bolzani. “It is important to note that we are not going straight to fully autonomous operations. As Eve begins operations, pilots will be on board and will also benefit from the application of these technologies through a safer and simplified vehicle operation until we reach a fully certified autonomous flight system for Urban Air Mobility.”

The project is also related to Eve’s Concept of Operations (CONOPS), which was initiated last year with collaboration from partners and government entities for the conversion of acquired knowledge into working data and analysis framework in order to better inform the future of Urban Air Mobility.

“All information and data raised in this project, as well as the technical solutions under development, will set the path for fully autonomous flight of eVTOLs in the future,” said Eve co-CEO Andre Stein. “We are thrilled with all operational aspects exercised and data acquired in this project and its direct connection to our CONOPS. These are solid steps for safely introducing future autonomous operations and accelerating the affordability and growth of the UAM market.”

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Ian attended Dominican University of California, where he received a BA in English in 2019. With a lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and a keen interest in technology, he is now contributing to DroneLife as a staff writer.