A.L.I. Technologies Hover Bike

Hover Bike
A.L.I. Technologies, Inc.
Minato City, Tokyo, Japan
www.ali.jp
www.xturismo.com

ALI Technologies is a small start-up company established in Sep. 2016 by a group of University of Tokyo student entrepreneurs developing drones. Komatsu Shūhei was named the company president in Feb. 2017 and now its chairman. Katano Daisuke was named president in Jul. 2018. Komatsu and Katano work together in guiding the firm, with Komatsu overseeing technology development and Katano handles the overall management of the company.

The company founders, at a young age, had their imaginations wowed seeing flying cars and other flying vehicles in Star Wars movies. There goal is to make science fiction become science fact. The Hover Bike is a one passenger aircraft, lift provided two large propellers in tandem under the fuselage, with four smaller side mounted fans on each main lift ducts, for forward and directional flight.

At the 46th annual 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, Oct. 25 – Nov. 4, A.L.I Technologies revealed another model, the full-scale prototype of a hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) hover bike, the Xturismo, on static display. No flying was done at the airshow. The mission of the company is to bring infrastructure, both hardware and software, for the next generations to make Urban Air Mobility (UAM) a reality.

According to the company, to make urban air travel a reality, there are several things which need to occur: the production of VTOL urban aircraft, the control of the VTOL aircraft, and the design and authentication of air routes so that no accidents occur. Which is why the company is developing UAVs, hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft, all-electric VTOL aircraft, deep learning, 3D rendering, blockchain platforms, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) control, three-dimensional control systems and air route designs, and artificial intelligence (AI) which will allow aircraft to fly safely for low altitude urban flight. The hover bike will have excellent stability in the air due to multiple sensors controlling it.

It’s a rare company that tackles both air infrastructure and air mobility. I think there’s only one other company like ours and it’s in Israel. Our company is working to achieve an air mobility society in which traffic accidents never happen. —Katano Daisuke, president, ALI Technologies

The company plans to have a working speeder hover bike for sale by the end of 2020 and to have it licensed for flying on roads and in the urban air space by 2023. Those who purchase the aircraft before 2023 will be able to fly the aircraft off-road in open fields, wetlands, lakes, deserts and other areas where it will be legal for a sport-only type vehicle to fly.

2023 is the target date which Japan expects to have legislation in place for flying urban air vehicles. And in 2023, ALI Technologies is also planning to have a new model for sale which looks the same but is all-electric. The company is withholding most specifications of their aircraft at this time but their goal is for a 200 km/h (124 mph) aircraft. One report says the company plans their aircraft will fly only 50 centimeters (19 inches) off the ground but we can nor not, speculate the altitude capability of the aircraft might increase, as further testing takes place.

There plan is to follow Tesla, sell to effluent customers first and then once the market is well established, then sell affordable models to the masses. The prices for the hover bike is not known at this time.

The company foresees the aircraft being used for personal air travel, search and rescue, and disaster rescue efforts. Like most other UAM hybrid-electric VTOL or eVTOL companies, ALI Technologies is stressing the importance of public acceptance which is a critical step in allowing urban air mobility to become a reality.

Specifications:

• Aircraft: Hybrid-electric and all-electric hover bike
• Passengers: 1
• Piloting: Manual (with computer assistance)
• Cockpit: Similar to a motorcycle with motorcycle type handle bars and seat
• Maximum speed: A goal of 200 km/h (124 mph)
• Maximum flight time: 3 hours
• Engines: 2 (eventually will be made with one engine)
• Lift propellers: 2 propellers with 5 blades on each propeller
• Forward and directional electric fans: 4
• Altitude: 50 centimeters (20 inches)
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)
• Safety devices/software: Deep learning, 3D rendering, blockchain platforms, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) control, three-dimensional control systems and air route designs, and artificial intelligence (AI) and senors to keep the the aircraft flying safely in the urban airspace

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase

Resources:

• ALI Technologies website
• XTURISMO website
• ALI Technologies Facebook
• A.L.I. Technologies Twitter
• A.L.I. Technologies YouTube
• A.L.I. Technologies Instagram
• Article: A.L.I. Technologies Inc. announced the general release of Japan’s first aerodynamic motorcycle “Speeder®” series, Viva Drone, 2019
• Article: “Japan startup unveils manned hoverbike, expecting it to fly above public roads”, The Bridge, Mar. 25, 2019
• Article: Commercialized a 10cm altitude flying bike “Speeder”, pre-order started in May, Japan CNET, Mar. 25, 2019
• Video: Flying Bike Demonstration, Jiji Video Center, Mar. 25, 2019
• Video: Hover bike “Speeder” prototype, CNET, Mar. 25, 2019
• Video: Future Hero, A.L.I. Technologies, Mar, 25, 2019
• Video: ALI Technologies “Speeder” Demo Drive, The Bridge, Mar. 25, 2019
• Article: Japanese company says it will mass produce hoverbikes within next three years, News (Australia), Mar. 27, 2019
• Article: ‘Flying motorbike’ to debut at Tokyo Motor Show, Japan Today, Sept. 14, 2019
• Video: “The “Flying bike” and aerial urban technology will play a role in ending ending traffic accidents and used for disaster relief, Japan.com, Oct. 20, 2019
• Article: Tired of Traffic? Take to the Skies with ALI Technologies’ Flying Bike, Nippon, Nov. 25, 2019