Zunum Aero’s Plans backed by Boeing, to Carry Out by 2022

Chicago-based aviation giant, Boeing and an American low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways, has announced plans to begin selling a hybrid-electric commuter aircraft by 2022 with A Seattle-are startup.

The plans for hybrid-electric aircraft were first announced in April. Boeing HorizonX and JetBlue Technology Ventures were revealed to have invested in its initial round of venture funding. Zunum’s timetable that was disclosed on Thursday proves the rush to develop small electric aircraft, highlighting the evolving battery technology and artificial intelligence systems. This could avoid road or aerial obstacles.

Zunum Aero designed the small plane as one of the first of several which they stated would seat up to 12 passengers and will dramatically reduce the travel time and cost of trips as it can be powered by two electric motors.

The Aircraft manufacturer is formulating a motor that will drive a fan similar to the bypass fan on a jet engine sans a jet’s combustion. Talks from Zunum have started with the plane makers regarding the construction of airframes.

Matt Knapp, co-founder and chief aeronautic engineer of the Kirkland, Washington-based company, stated that to test the batteries, electrical system, software and other specifics, Zunum will build non-flying prototypes of the powertrain.

The planes would fly from thousands of designated small airports around big metropolitan areas to cut costs and regional travel times.

"Airlines are very keen to know how to fly a shorter distance and make money on it,” Knapp stated in an interview.

The additional power for the motors would be provided by gas-powered engines as the current battery technology can only power the plane for about 100 miles.

Boeing’s One Foot Forward Investments

Boeing stepped up its investment in the sector of autonomous technology on Thursday, when announcements of plans to buy Aurora Flight Sciences, a Vancouver-based company that develops experimental self-piloting aircraft.

The company executives described the deal as a move to prepare with the future trends in the aviation technology, but have not disclosed its terms.

“This really represents a new chapter for the Boeing Company because the aerospace industry is going to be changing as it moves into the future,” stated Boeing’s senior vice president of engineering, test and technology, Greg Hyslop.

Some technologies that Aurora is working on could be related in Boeing’s commercial sector, this includes an experimental delivery drone being developed along with Uber.

In the previous times, Boeing has used acquisitions to align itself with emerging next-generation technology markets. The company acquired Insitu in 2008 which now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within Boeing, this move gave its unmanned systems offerings a boost.

Liquid Robotics, a company that develops robotic submarine technology has been bought by Boeing recently.

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