Elevating the future of urban mobility autonomous passenger drones design

Ai, Siyu

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106280 Copy

Description

Title

Elevating the future of urban mobility autonomous passenger drones design

Author(s)

Ai, Siyu

Issue Date

2019-12-12

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Weightman, David

Department of Study

Art & Design

Discipline

Art and Design

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.F.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• VTOL
• Industrial design
• design
• UAVs

Abstract

With the rapid development of technology in markets and industries, public focus has moved to the economic and social impacts that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may bring. Many technology companies have revealed their plans to launch electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOLs) and believe that on-demand aviation has an enormous potential to enhance urban mobility and will reform our transportation system. VTOLs can travel to the destination independently of any specific routine to avoid delays. These flying vehicles will use three- dimensional airspace to alleviate traffic congestion and traffic on the ground, shorten the time people spend on their daily commutes and have the potential to reduce global emissions by utilizing electricity as the primary energy source. This thesis project aims to design a short-distance multi-copter system which combines a drone structure with a passenger pod. The focus was on the conceptual development of a tilt fan and pod system that is fully powered by electricity. Two types of passenger drones were developed based on engineering specification, human factors, aesthetics, and industrial regulations. Multiple VTOL iterations with different interior layouts and structures were explored.

Graduation Semester

2019-12

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106280

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Siyu Ai

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