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F l y O R B s. o r g

Flying Free
Revolutionizing Flight Affordability
Previous transformations in aviation generated spectacular leaps in performance, but cost was commensurate with performance, limiting quantity. This next age appears to take a different approach. Aircraft speed, range, and altitude may not increase, but procurement, life cycle, and ancillary logistics costs could decrease so dramatically that the use of the third dimension could grow exponentially. Initial data suggests that ORB cost “per unit weight, per mile” could reduce by an order of magnitude based on the simplicity and flexibility of ORB architectures. Electric drone sales have doubled over the last year indicating initial success of the physics and finance associated with this technology. Engineers and entrepreneurs are now working to prove the technology is scalable, from microgram to multiton payloads. As shown in the videos, these prototypes look very promising.
Some predict that the next billion dollar tech start will be in aerospace (click here to read more).
Aurora Flight Sciences is partnering with Uber to build a mobile on-demand transportation system where ORBs would deliver passengers across the city when requested with a mobile device. The prototype sub-scale model made its first flight in 2017.
Opportunity
Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) technology creates the potential to use air transportation without driving to congested and expensive airports. The mechanical efficiency of ORBs could decrease procurement and maintenance cost by 90%, making air travel viable for vast new uses by vast populations who currently cannot afford flying. Autonomous systems could increase safety allowing the masses to pilot their future.
Volocopter is a German company and has already conducted multiple manned ORB flights in 2016. They plan to begin initial air mobility trials in Dubai during 2017. The Volocopter has 18 motors and is flown with a joystick. Early production is planned for 2017.
Volocopter
Aurora eVTOL




Revolutionizing the Commute
The revolution in aviation offers an opportunity to fly to places where currently we only drive, or in some cases, walk or float, and the cost of those flights could be significantly reduced. Furthermore, it creates a mobility option for those times when driving becomes difficult or impossible because of excess traffic, accidents, harsh terrain, lack of infrastructure, or natural disaster. ORBs create new options to mobilize the world. Traffic congestion is causing Americans to travel an extra 5.5 billion hours per year and purchase an extra 2.9 billion gallons of fuel per year. This has driven a $121 billion annual price tag due to congestion with tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Aging infrastructure of roads and bridges deteriorate based on the number and weight of vehicles using them, which continues to increase with increased urbanization and growing GDP. Is there an opportunity for America to make a generational leap in transportation, bolstering the U.S. economy, propelling the world beyond the Roman tradition of building and fixing bridges and roads, and creating an infrastructure enhancement tool for developing nations, presently unable to build bridges or roads.
The monetary and environmental costs are only one part of the commuting equation. Commuting is found to cause significant stress, create relationship problems at home and at work, and reduce time available to spend with loved ones. It also degrades sleep, exercise, and nutrition, as well as increasing depression, anxiety, and social isolation. Given this data, it is no surprise that the world’s most innovative firms are beginning to understand the enormous potential market that could come from minimizing the misery of commuting. When assessing overall quality of life, reducing the pain of a commute might be a very likely place to spend an extra dollar as urbanization and global per capita GDP increase. Urban air mobility with ORBs could create an alternative by using the third dimension (watch the video below to see Uber's vision for future mobility).
Revolutionizing International Development
ORBs could also aid international development. The World Bank estimates that half of the recent growth in Sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to infrastructure investment. Given the cost of roads and bridges and the complexity of working in some of these environments, ORBs could create an opportunity for undeveloped countries to skip a generation of infrastructure, forgoing vast investments in roads and bridges, for a more flexible, scalable and less capital intensive transportation system. The ability to operate on electricity from solar and wind power could make implementation of an ORB infrastructure feasible, without a need to invest in regional electric grids. Developing countries could purchase individual units as money becomes available for immediate incremental utility without having to wait on the completion of a complex multiyear concrete project to reap the benefits.
Overcoming Hurdles
Think Big... Start Small
While there is an opportunity to truly revolutionize transportation, the promises currently being made about eVTOL musts first overcome vast hurdles such as cultural resistance to a new type of mobility, technology not progressing as quickly as predicted, certification delays by the FAA, and insufficient means of controlling dense air traffic. These are not trivial challenges, but we believe that by delivering safe and affordable ORBs to the public today and by facilitating teaming among stakeholders, the difficulties can be quickly overcome. See where you fit on the team. (click here)