Demand for Flying Taxis Lifts Electric Aircraft Market

Demand for Flying Taxis Lifts Electric Aircraft Market Demand for Flying Taxis Lifts Electric Aircraft Market Demand for Flying Taxis Lifts Electric Aircraft Market A flying car has been the stuff that only dreams are made of. That is until some dreamers began to think that advances in batteries, lightweight materials, electric motors, and artificial intelligence could make aerial taxis more than a pipe dream.In fact, there has been so much recent interest and activity in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for on-demand air taxis that eVTOL News proclaimed this year that eVTOL is close to becoming mainstream.Ride-hailing service Uber, although not the earliest to jump in, has been among the most forthcoming in its plans to offer a piloted on-demand air traffic service in 2023 in at least three cities, with testing to begin in 2020.That seemed to spur more interest across Silicon Valley and the world, says Brian German, associate professor of aerospace engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and a principal investigator on multiple NASA-funded studies related to urban air mobility.This past March, the Kitty Hawk company one major investor is co-founder of Google Larry Page, disclosed it had been doing flight testing in New Zealand with an autonomous eVTOL aircraft called Cora, with the goal of launching a commercial service.For You Four Key Advanced Manufacturing Technologies Used in AerospaceAnother contender, Joby Aviation, is reportedly moving along with an entry called S4 but has not publicly released much official information. Chinese drone maker Ehang and German company Volocopter have both conducted tests of their pilot-less eVTOLs in Dubai.The Cora air taxi. Image Kitty HawkAcross the globe, many eVTOL prototypesare being developed as an ideal vehicle for urban commuting, resolving key issues of noise, operating efficiency, performance, reliability, safety, and affordability in different ways. Uber, which has invited five airc raft manufacturers - Bell, Boeings Aurora Flight, Embraer, Karem, and Pipistrel - to submit proposals using Ubers specifications, plans to start with piloted aircraft and transition to autonomous, while others like Kitty Hawk and Airbus advocate autonomy from the start because they dont think there will be enough pilots.Different players have different approaches, says German, who was a speaker at Ubers first Elevate summit last year, which brought together a few hundred leaders in vehicle manufacturing, regulatory bodies, venture capital, and aviation technology to share research, plans, and dreams about aerial urban transport. That number exploded to some 1,200 for the second Elevate summit this year.What most if not all the vehicle configurations have in common is the use of a battery-driven electric motor to operate propellers or rotors. One might ask why not helicopters. They are practical, serviceable aircraft, but noise and cost of operating are definitely technical barriers, German explained.The three most promising concepts for the aircraft, German believes, are lift positiv cruise configuration, tilt wing, and tilt rotor.Im quite excited about this - we are reinventing and reimaging what aviation can be, he says. The fact that we dont yet have a winning configuration is like the early days of flight. We didnt have a winning configuration for the airplane for many years. For eVTOLs, we are still in that messy phase figuring out that configuration right now.One key difference in lift plus cruise versus the other two is the propulsion system. Lift plus cruise has a separate system for lifting and another for forward flight while the other two use the same motors for both lifting and forward flight. Transitioning (from lifting to forward flight is a technical challenge that people are very well aware of in this field, German says.Volocopter taxi service is expected to start running somewhere in the world in two to three years. Image VolocopterSeparate sy stems could be easier and an advantage, although the challenge with lift plus cruise is that it adds a lot of drag to the aircraft because you have a lot of extra things out in the breeze, he saysThe Cora, a lift plus cruise system, looks somewhat like a traditional airplane but with many rotors on booms sticking out all around the wings for lift. The cruise propeller is at the back of the aircraft. The lift rotors stop and lock in cruise, but they are still out in the air causing drag, German says.Tilt wing aircraft, using a single propulsion system for both lift and forward flight, historically have a bit more difficulty transitioning. The rotors provide lift when the wings tilt up for takeoff and landing in vertical flight. The wings tilt down and look like an airplane in forward flight. One example is the Airbus A3 Vahana, which made its first one-minute flight this past February.A tilt rotor, like the Joby S4, has stationary wings but rotating motors that look like a helicopter rotor in lifting and hovering and rotate forward for forward flight. That may mean less drag, German says, but it also probably means the aircraft will be heavier because it requires tilting mechanisms.So there are all kinds of aerodynamic tradeoffs, he says. He believes different configurations may work for different cities, depending on needs such as speed and flight range. There are also electrical and mechanical challenges related to charging (an electrical grid supplying a huge amount of power for fast-charging or local battery storage) placement and architectural challenges of the vertiports pilot training government approvals even manufacturing the number of vehicles that will be required.A lot of unterstellung things wont be overcome at once and Im not sure to what extent all will happen, but Im pretty sure some will, German says Just like in the early days of aviation, we have to take a little bit of euphoria with a grain of salt in the short term. Theres going to be a cyc le. We are on a steep edge of it, and after some disappointment, there is a rebound and a new era of aviation for society.Nancy Giges is an independent writer.Read MoreRaspberry Pis Eben Upton on Design and InnovationA Prosthetic ArmBangs the Drums3D Printing Manufactures New Role in Supply ChainWe are reinventing and reimaging what aviation can be.Prof. Brian German, Georgia Institute of Technology

5 Phrases to Never Say When Delivering Bad News

5 Phrases to Never Say When Delivering schwimmbad News5 Phrases to Never Say When Delivering Bad News Whether youre telling a coworker youve made a huge mistake or youre a manager who needs to lay someone off , every time you deliver schwimmbad nachrichtensendung you run the risk of being shot as the messenger. Why? Because as social creatures, were naturally drawn to phrases and excuses that drain the perceived painfulness of our homilie - but often only make that glaubenszeugnis more painful. But you dont have to fall for these lame linguistic leanings every time you share something unpleasant. Even if the only bad nachrichtensendung you have to deliver today is, Im going to be late here are five phrases you should avoid if you dont want to make the bad news worse.Managers sometimes appear uncaring when they announce bad news because they worry they might look weak, writes Kevin Daley, founder of Communispond Inc, for The Harvard Business Review . Its better to w orry about looking uncaring. Be compassionate, but dont apologize for your bad news or talk at length about how bad you feel. For those who have to figure out how to deliver bad news on a regular basis, keep in mind that, Im sorry , but is the quickest way to make delivering bad news negatively impact how people perceive you. Any variation of this phrase - for example, This is so unfair, but or I dont think this is right, but - will undermine your authority and make people wonder why youre delivering a message you dont support.Bad news should never come as a surprise, writes Robert Bies, a professor of management at Georgetown Universitys McDonough School of Business, for Forbes . Failure to warn senior leadership of impending bad news, such as poor sales or a loss of a major client, is a cardinal sin. So is failure to warn subordinates about mistakes in their performance and provide an opportunity for them to make corrections and improve.So if youre a manager, dont pull som eone aside at the end of a meeting or drop a bad news bomb in passing. Set aside calendar time or wait for a regularly scheduled 11 meeting to speak. If youre a coworker, make your message clear by saying, Hey, I have some bad news to share, but I think together we can figure something out - do you have time today to meet privately?Share context, but share it quickly, says Daley Too much background up front can make you look insecure about getting to the bad news itself. If you played a part in what went wrong, or took part in a decision that will be painful for people to hear, admit it.Especially if youre trying to figure out how to deliver bad news in response to an impromptu question, putting off bad news with too many details will look like youre making excuses for it. Dont be tempted to over-explain what caused the problem, how it could have been avoided or who else is to blame - just get to the point.Never hide the facts, says Bies. While withholding information out of fea r, or to save face may be a natural reaction, withholding information can cause a wrong diagnosis of the actual problem or an underestimation of the extent of the cause of the bad news.Hiding what you know or not having all the details before you share bad news wont solve any problems - it will only make things worse. Make sure you have all the information youll need before you share the unpleasant update.Once you know that you have to convey a difficult message, start thinking about how you will say those words, writes Sharlyn Lauby on her popular blog, HRBartender . Sometimes as managers, we are asked to communicate bad news that was decided by senior management. The last thing we want to do is throw anyone under the bus, so find the best way to deliver the message using your own voice.As the person trying to figure out how to deliver bad news, you have an advantage over the recipient you already know what the bad news is. That gives you time to carefully plan your message s o that it will be received in the most productive way possible. When it comes to communicating in the workplace, nothing catches you off guard like having to share something negative. Study this list to make sure that the next time you deliver bad news, it doesnt spell bad news for your relationships at work.

How to stay humble and sincere when youre doing really well

How to stay humble and sincere when youre doing really wellHow to stay humble and sincere when youre doing really wellYoure amazing and you know it. Youre at the top of your game, you look spectacular and your wardrobe is definitely Tim Gunn approved. Speaking of guns, youre in perfect shape, or pretty close to it.So, should you be strutting your stuff and telling everyone you know just how well youre doing? Maybe not.In the age of the humblebrag, it can be slightly complicated to know when or how to brag and when to keep your good news to yourself. Being humble is truly a positive trait, bragging is not, said Arden Clise an etiquette expert and author of Spinach in Your Bosss Teeth Essential Etiquette for Professional Success.Clise offered some tips on how to share your good news and accomplishments without braggingKeep it to yourself unless asked Dont offer your good news unless youre asked how you are or there is a relevant opening. In other words, dont crow about just how well yo ure doing and dont share with people who might not be happy about your success. If someone asks about how youre doing and seems to genuinely care about you and your professional or life journey, feel free to share your good news. If you feel like someone is just humoring you though, feel free to steer the conversation in a different direction.Just the facts, maam When you share your exciting update keep what you say low-key and dont talk ad nauseam about it said Clise. Save the juicy details for your mom, spouse or sister since theyre required by law to listen to every single detail no matter how boring or repetitive.Share the glory Clise reminds us to give leistungspunkt to others for helping or recognizing you. People seem more inclined to listen to happy news if they hear the details of how you got to that better place.Make it a conversation not a declaration Clise said After sharing your accomplishment and getting a response, turn the conversation back to the other person. She o ffered an example Things are really good for me right now. Im pretty excited that I was recently promoted to Vice President at my company. It will be a challenging job but Im lucky to have a really talented team working with me. Pause. How are things with you? Did you enjoy your trip to France? Allow them to brag about something theyve done so its not all about you.Let others brag for you Its much more powerful and impressive when you hold back and someone else shares your news, according to Clise. She reminds us though that this needs to happen organically, it cant be orchestrated. But if you spend time with people who appreciate and respect you, they will surely share the exciting news if you dont.A few other things to keep in mindYou dont have to always downplay your own success. If you find that your friends respond best to your tales of woe rather than success, it might be time to find better friends.Keep a brag list for yourself Sometimes its as important to remind yourself ab out your worth as it is to share with others. Create a folder in your inbox to file emails with praise and career recognition. Make a short success list for yourself and reread it before your next presentation. Or read your CV and recognize all the amazing things that brought you to this place.Listen to the nice things people say Were taught not to brag and to downplay the nice things people say to us. What about if you actually allow yourself to accept praise and acknowledge that its well deserved? Sounds pretty revolutionary, but it might also encourage others to better recognize your worth.Praise others Everyone loves hearing about how talented and inspiring they are. It also makes them more inclined to listen when you share your own good news.