Alaka'i Technologies Skai (concept design)

Skai (concept design)
Alaka'i Technologies
Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA
www.skai.co

Alaka’i Technologies is an emerging air mobility design and manufacturing company founded in 2006 by Brian Morrison and is headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA. The executive team has decades of aerospace development including NASA, Raytheon, Beech Aircraft, McDonnell Douglas, Hughes and more. The company is engineering proprietary, progressive air mobility solutions to offer point-to-any-point transportation that are safe, simple, zero-emissions, affordable and comfortable. The company is in the business of designing and manufacturing passenger hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM) and ultimately would like to transform transportation with their aircraft.

A non-flying version of the aircraft was unveiled on May 29, 2019 in Newbury Park, California, USA. NBC Los Angeles said it "resembles an oversized drone crossed with a luxury SUV." BMW-owned global creative consultancy Designworks was contracted for the design, with a focus on the passenger experience. Morrison holds several patents supporting the Alaka'i hydrogen fuel cell hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft. According to the company, the fuel cells are 95% reusable, the remaining 5% are 99% recyclable, and can travel longer distances than its current competitors.

Skai passenger hybrid-electric VTOL multicopter concept design aircraft
The Skai is a passenger hybrid-electric VTOL multicopter concept design aircraft. The aircraft can be manually piloted, remote controlled or provide fully autonomous flight. If manually piloted, the aircraft holds one pilot, four passengers and their luggage. If remotely or autonomously piloted, the aircraft holds five passengers and their luggage. The multicopter has large windows providing excellent views for the pilot and passengers.

The multicopter aircraft has six propellers, six electric motors and has a hybrid-electric power source using hydrogen fuel cells. The aircraft can refuel in about 10 minutes, according to the company. The cruise speed of the aircraft is anticipated at 115 mph (185 km/h), with an expected range of 150 miles (241 km) and has a predicted maximum flight time of four hours. The calculated maximum payload is 1,000 lb (454 kg). The byproduct of hydrogen fuel is heat and water and a fuel cell is much more efficient than a combustion engine. Hence, the aircraft has no emissions. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear.

Cabin features
The cabin is a modern design that will offer a clean aesthetic with ambient LED lighting to add a warm calming touch. Well appointed seats are upholstered with premium materials and stylish accents. The glass canopy windows deliver 180º sight lines for exceptional aerial views. 5G-powered WIFI will keeps passengers connected during the entire flight. Using the Skai app, passengers will even be able to take augmented reality-enhanced selfies to share their experience.

Safety features of the multicopter
The Skai multicopter aircraft has many safety features. There is distributed electric propulsion (DEP) which means having multiple propellers and multiple electric motors, so if one or more propellers or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure.

The avionics system is protected against electromagnetic interference. There is a triple-redundant autopilot system that will maintain smooth stable flight. The aircraft has next-generation Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) system providing tracking, weather data, increased air traffic awareness and reduces the risk of collisions with other aircraft. Key systems include a combination of LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and camera sensors that can detect large and small objects in the vehicle’s path. There are FAA certified impact-absorbing seats that have a 4-point seat belt system to keep passengers as safe and secure as possible. The carbon fiber composite airframe and landing skids are built to flex and reduce the effects of a hard landing. There is also a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

The vehicle is expected to be used an air taxi, personal air vehicle, cargo delivery and more.

We’re demonstrating what we began over 20 years ago together at NASA: truly point-to-any-point, safe, affordable distributed on-demand air mobility.

Brian Morrison, President

Fuel cell technology was first invented in 1838 but was not used for commercial purposes until the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) used it to generate power for satellites and space capsules. Since then, fuel cells have been used for many applications from cars, buses, boats, motorcycles, submarines and for co-generation.

Hydrogen has a few hundred times the energy density of the best of lithium ion battery technology.

Alaka'i Technologies Board Member Dr. Bruce Holmes

Fuel cells, depending upon the type of fuel cell, can create two types of pollution. The catalyst which makes them work faster, is toxic. While hydrogen is the most plentiful element in the universe, it does not occur naturally as a gas on earth. It takes energy to produce hydrogen; therefore, if fossil fuel is used to create hydrogen, then indirectly, the power source used to create hydrogen will pollute the air.

If clean energy such as power from windmills create the electricity to create hydrogen, then it there will be very little indirect pollution. One can go even further: if internal combustion engine (ICE) cars or trucks, or gas turbine helicopters are used to service windmills, there is still indirect pollution being made in the creation of hydrogen and so on.

Of course, the same can be said to the making of batteries and the charging of batteries. There are certainly fossil fuels being used to make and power batteries and these fossil fuels indirectly releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, as more clean energy is used to make and store clean energy, then the better it will be for earth, the human race and will hopefully reverse climate change.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen (usually from air) to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from metals and their ions or oxides that are commonly already present in the battery, except in flow batteries. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied.

Wikipedia

Alaka'i Technology says it can achieve a lower environmental impact and better performance from fuel cells because they can store more energy than batteries can in less space. This reduces the weight of the aircraft increasing operating range. Their fuel cells are said to have a very long lifespan, in terms of decades.

Alaka’i Technologies claims that using fuel cells and the technology used in their aircraft creates a much simpler vehicle, or lowers complexity, has very few moving parts (fuel cells have no moving parts) and because of this they are hopeful to be able get through FAA (Federal Aviation Administration, USA) regulations in certifying the aircraft in about one (1) year or by 2020, so that production can begin. However, they concede that due to the complexity of FAA regulations, this early projected time frame might not take place.

Alaka'i says it's planning its first test flight sometime in 2019 near its headquarters in Massachusetts.

February 16, 2024, two prototypes have been flying in secrecy
The company reported to Aviation Week, they have been flying two prototypes for the last several years in secrecy. The two prototypes are being flown from Minute Man Air Field in Stow, Massachusetts, USA. Alaka’i has also reported in the same Aviation Week article, they are in stage three for the FAA G-1 certification process of its aircraft.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Hybrid-electric passenger VTOL multicopter concept design aircraft
• Pilot: 1 pilot (The aircraft can be manually piloted, remote controlled or provide fully autonomous flight)
• Passengers: 4 passengers (In autonomous mode, 5 passengers)
• Cruise speed: 115 mph (185 km/h)
• Range: 150 miles (241 km)
• Maximum flight time: 4 hours
• Flight altitude: Less than 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
• Propellers: 6 propellers
• Electric motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: A hybrid-electric power source using hydrogen fuel cells
• Refueling time: Less than 10 minutes
• Windows: Large windows provide spectacular views for the passengers
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. The avionics system is protected against electromagnetic interference. There is a triple-redundant autopilot system that will maintain smooth stable flight. The aircraft has next-generation Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) system providing tracking, weather data, increased air traffic awareness and reduces the risk of collisions with other aircraft. Key systems include a combination of LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and camera sensors that can detect large and small objects in the vehicle’s path. FAA certified impact-absorbing seats have a 4-point seat belt system to keep passengers as safe and secure as possible. The carbon composite airframe and landing skids are built to flex and reduce the effects of a hard landing. There is also a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

Related Aircraft:

• Alaka'i Technologies Skai (prototype)

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase
• Tracxn

Resources:

• Alaka'i Technologies website
• Alaka'i Technologies Facebook
• Alaka'i Technologies Twitter
• Alaka'i Technologies Instagram
• Alaka'i Technologies LinkedIn
• Article: Hydrogen-Power Electric Flying Vehicle: Long Road to Liftoff, NBC Los Angeles, May 29, 2019
• Article: The Skai is a multipurpose flying car powered by hydrogen fuel cells, Digital Trends, May 29, 2019
• Article: We’re still waiting for flying cars. This startup says hydrogen power is the answer, Fast Company, May 29, 2019
• Article: Alaka'i's Skai wants to be the fuel cell-powered aircraft of the people, CNET, May 29, 2019
• Article: Skai could be the first fuel cell-powered flying taxi, Engadget, May 29, 2019
• Video: Interview with Steve Hanvey, CEO of Alaka'i, developers of a hydrogen powered air vehicle, socalTECH, May 29, 2019
• Article: Will Upcoming Skai Aircraft Be The Air Mobility Solution Of The Future?, Forbes, May 30, 2019
• Article: Skai Hydrogen-Powered Electric Flying Vehicle Unveiled, Experts Says Numerous Regulatory Hurdles to Be Cleared, Gadgets 360, May 30, 2019
• Article: Flying in the Skai with Hydrogen, Vertiflite, July/August 2019
• Article: Oshkosh e-AirVenture, Vertiflite, Sep/Oct 2019
• Article: The Royal Seal of Approval: Alaka’i’s hydrogen-powered advanced air mobility vehicle Skai is on a mission to decarbonize travel, Yahoo! Finance, Sept. 20, 2021
• Article: Alaka'i Seeks Partner as Skai Hydrogen eVTOL Prototype Prepares To Fly, Future Flight, Sept. 30, 2021
• Video: The Future of Flying Taxies, Bernard Marr, Jan. 12, 2022
• Article: Are Hydrogen-Powered, Autonomous Flying Taxis The Future?, Forbes, Jan. 13, 2022
• Article: Stealth Startup Alaka’i Flight Testing Two Fuel Cell eVTOL Prototypes, Aviation Week, Feb. 16, 2024
• Article: Skai introduces world’s first hydrogen powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, Tekedia, Jan. 25, 2024