Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX) Sigma-6 (prototype)

Sigma-6 (prototype)
Airspace Experience Technologies, LLC (ASX)
Detroit, Michigan, USA
www.iflyasx.com

Founded in Detroit, Michigan (USA) in 2017, by Anita Sengupta, Jon Rimanelli, JP Yorro and RJ King, Airspace Experience Technologies an aerospace startup and is in the business of making affordable hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and/or electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) and other multiple uses. All photos credit Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX).

The MOBi aircraft is an all electric tilt-wing under development with a modular payload design. Airspace Experience Technologies started a funding rounds under the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's CF and D regulations in partnership with SeedInvest to raise $8 million to support development work. The company also launched a Series A funding round in March 2020 and welcomes new investors to join their urban air mobility opportunity.

The Sigma-6 is a hybrid-electric VTOL or eVTOL optional passenger and heavy-lift prototype aircraft with autonomous or pilot optional flight. The cruise speed is estimated to be 126 mph (203 km/h) with a maximum speed greater than 200 mph (322 km/h). The hybrid-electric powertrain range is greater than 200 m (322 km) and the all electric powertrain has a range greater than 90 m (145 km). The aircraft's maximum payload is 1,000 lb (454 kg) and the aircraft has low noise emissions which are under 70 db.

The Sigma-6 VTOL differs greatly from MOBi-One V1 due to multiple design changes such as major architectural changes, repositioning the propeller locations, major improvements to its powertrain, revising its landing gear and more. The aircraft cannot takeoff and land as a plane, the aircraft has only VTOL capability. The number of passengers the aircraft can hold is unknown as of the Jan. 27, 2021 Sigma-6 reveal.

In December 2018, the company reported it has flown five sub-scale prototype vehicles, including one-third and one-fifth scale prototypes and work on a full-sized prototype is on-going. Airspace Experience Technologies has said it will have a full-scale working prototype for the Sigma-6 by the third quarter of 2021.

Airspace Experience Technologies foresees the aircraft as an air taxi, personal, corporate and government passenger transportation, emergency medical services (EMS), police use and military tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR). A pod shaped ground car for ground transportation has also been proposed.

A third version of the MOBi-One, was announced on Jan. 15, 2018 at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan (USA). On Jan. 27, 2021, the Sigma-6 was announced at Vertical Flight Society’s 8th annual Electric VTOL Symposium on with a graphic presentation which included some specifications.

The company plans to deliver up to 2,500 aircraft in the United States' 50 largest cities by 2025-26. It will start with the cargo version in 2023, begin passenger service in 2024 and offer pilot-optional autonomy by 2030. Airspace Experience Technologies has estimated the cost of materials for each aircraft will be less than $500,000.00 USD, calculating a possible sales price for their aircraft in the range $1 million USD. The company has also estimated the cost for an air taxi one-way ticket to be about the same as an Uber Black ride (An Uber premium service which is roughly $8-12 per mile, in 2020 US dollars).

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric or eVTOL tilt-wing passenger or cargo prototype aircraft
• Piloting: Autonomous or pilot assisted
• Capacity: Unknown
• Cruise speed: 126 mph (203 km/h)
• Maximum speed: >200 mph (322 km/h)
• Electric range: >90 m (145 km)
• Hybrid-electric range: >200 m (322 km)
• Maximum payload: 1,000 lb (454 kg)
• Low noise emissions: <70 db
• Propellers: 6 propellers
• Electric Motors: 6 electric motors for the propellers and there are more electric motors for the tilt-wing
• Power source: Hybrid-electric or batteries
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Windows: Panoramic windows with wrap around window design allowing forward, left, right and top visibility, for spectacular views
• Wings: One high tilt-wing, 38 feet (11.58 m) wide
• Tail: V-tail
• Landing gear: Fixed quadricycle landing gear
• Safety Features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers and motors on the aircraft so if one or more motors or propellers fail, the other working motors and propellers can safely land the aircraft.

Related Aircraft:

• Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX) MOBi-One V1 (concept design)
• Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX) MOBi-One V2 (concept design)
• Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX) MOBi-One V3 (concept design)
• Airspace Experience Technologies (ASX) Sigma-6 Cargo Drone (concept design)

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase
• MarketWatch
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Airspace Experience Technologies website
• Airspace Experience Technologies Twitter
• Airspace Experience Technologies Instagram
• Airspace Experience Technologies LinkedIn
• Article: AirSpaceX Reveals Electric VTOL Aircraft at North American International Auto Show in Detroit, PR Newswire, Jan. 15, 2018
• Article: AirSpaceX's autonomous, electric air taxi lands in Detroit, New Atlas, Jan. 15, 2018
• Article: Detroit’s ASX Reveals Electric VTOL Aircraft at 2018 North American International Auto Show. dbusiness, Feb. 12, 2018
• Article: Verdego Aero to supply ASX, PRLog, Jan. 15, 2019
• Article: MOBi-One, Future Flight, Feb. 2020
• Article: ASX teams up with Spirit AeroSystems for affordable eVTOL UAM, Electrek, Feb. 25, 2020
• Article: ASX and Spirit AeroSystems Developing Affordable eVTOL Aircraft for the Mass Traveling Public, PR Newswire, Feb. 17, 2020
• Article: This New Electric Aircraft Uses ’60s-Era Tech to Take Off Like a Helicopter and Fly Like a Plane, Robb Report, May 28, 2020
• Article: ASX reveals its optimized eVTOL design, Sigma Six, eVTOL Magazine, Jan. 29, 2021
• Article: Detroit Auto Show to Showcase Air Mobility with Aerial Taxis, Hoverboards, DBusiness, Aug. 10, 2022
• Article: ASX Flies Tiltwing eVTOL Air Taxi Demo With Plug-And-Play Payloads, Aviation Week, Sept. 15, 2022
• Article: Airspace Experience Technologies Announces Partnership with Mail Management Services, Yahoo Finance, Jan. 6, 2023
• Article: Full-scale modular eVTOL prototype shows off swappable pods and ground robot, New Atlas, Jan. 31, 2023