Airbus has collaborated with HAX, an early stage investor in hardware start-ups, to explore the future of urban air mobility as part of a four-month accelerator programme based in Shenzhen, China.

The partnership is expected to help develop new urban air transport ideas from the prototype stage to marketing.

It will also aim to accelerate the commercialisation of related innovative ideas.

Airbus Urban Air Mobility general manager Mathias Thomsen said: “Transportation in megacities needs fresh ideas to improve the way we live.

“We believe that adding the vertical dimension to urban mobility will improve the current congested megacity transport systems.”

“We believe that adding the vertical dimension to urban mobility will improve the current congested megacity transport systems.”

The four-month urban air mobility acceleration programme will be conducted at HAX’s site in Shenzhen and has invited applications from early-stage start-ups worldwide to develop new urban air transportation technologies.

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The applicants are requested to focus on developing new urban air transport vehicle technology, aerial sense and avoid technology, airport runway and landing detection systems, emergency safety technology for airborne vehicles, and infrastructure for airborne transport vehicles.

They are also expected to provide new ideas on autonomous airborne vehicle technology, aerial manoeuvres decision making and support systems, air traffic management systems, aerial collision detection and avoidance systems, as well as battery packaging and management systems for airborne vehicles.

Selected applicants will receive a minimum upfront investment of $100,000, in addition to technical guidance and practical help from both Airbus and HAX, to convert prototypes into a reality.

Image: A flying car concept. Photo: courtesy of Airbus.