AutoFlight today releases the second, and latest, full scale proof-of-concept (POC) video for its air taxi Prosperity I. The new video debuts three months after the original POC video and includes a modified, more efficient design of Prosperity I.
In the latest design, new optimized lifting propellers allow for a higher hover efficiency, while the two pushing propellors that were previously on either side of the air taxi have been replaced with one center propellor with twin motors to enhance cruising abilities. The latest design of Prosperity I is very close to the final design which will be released later this year.
About Prosperity I:Prosperity I aims to carry a maximum of 3 passengers and 1 pilot for a range of up to 250 kilometers. The cruising speed is 200 kilometers per hour.Vertical flight for the proof of concept for Prosperity I required eight rotors to lift the 3,307 pounds, including four-person, state-of-the-art electric aircraft into the air. Once the aircraft reached an altitude of 150 meters and the airspeed of 100-110mph the fixed wing part of the eVTOL generated lift.
Advertisement
At this point, Prosperity I entered the complex transition phase – the rotors on the top stopped spinning and locked in a streamlined position, while the propellers on the rear pushed the aircraft forward like a traditional fixed wing plane. As shown in the video, the transitions for the Prosperity I are seamless, safe and smooth thanks to the quality of the engineering and the rigorous attention to detail in the complex aerodynamics.
We can imagine airport commutes, short transfers between parts of a city, connecting two nearby cities or enabling trips to the countryside while avoiding traffic on the ground. A trip that takes hours by car will be reduced to about 10 minutes with Prosperity I. Without being any less safe or more expensive than a taxi ride or parking fees.
