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Uber, US Army partner up for silent electric aircraft tech

They will work together to design, test and develop new co-rotating propeller technology for the vehicles.

Headshot of Antuan Goodwin
Headshot of Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin Senior Writer, Electrified Cars
Antuan started out in the automotive industry the old-fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. He now has nearly 20 years of expertise and experience behind the wheel of hundreds of cars, including electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, hydrogen, and traditional combustion vehicles. For each car he tests, Antuan covers more than 200 miles behind the wheel and evaluates driving dynamics; acceleration and braking performance; range; and efficiency. Antuan's goal is to use his extensive car knowledge to educate CNET readers and help with their next car-related buying decision. Whether you're EV-curious, an EV-enthusiast or a combustion-car loyalist, Antuan will bring you the unbiased advice, reviews, best lists and news you need. You can reach Antuan at antuan.goodwin@cnet.com
Expertise Nearly two decades of testing, driving, reporting on, writing about, reviewing, and editing content about electric and ICE cars. Category focus is on electrified cars, EVs, HEVs, PHEVs, ICE cars, EV infrastructure, EV chargers, EV adapters, EV news, auton Credentials
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Antuan Goodwin
2 min read
Uber

On the heels of its unveiling of a flying taxi concept at the Uber Elevate Summit in Los Angeles this morning, Uber has announced that it has partnered with the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Research Lab to develop and test electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles.

The partnership will specifically focus on the use of co-rotating rotors for vertical thrust. Basically a pair of propellers stacked and spinning in the same direction, co-rotating rotors promise to be significantly quieter than traditional single rotors (like those on a helicopter) or paired rotors (like those on your quadcopter) with a benefit of also offering improved performance and efficiency.  

All of the electric urban aircraft unveiled at Uber Elevate 2018

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Uber finds a quieter aircraft is desirable because its eVTOL designs and upcoming UberAir service are meant to be used in urban areas where noise pollution is a factor. Less noise pollution means more flexibility for the routes its flying taxis can take and where they can land. I shouldn't have to explain the benefits of improved efficiency for a flying electric vehicle; it's a huge factor in battery and recharge cycle management.

The Army hopes to further the development of next-generation silent VTOL craft and unmanned air vehicles. Stacked co-rotating rotors have never been used on an existing flying craft before and Uber along with the Army's research lab expect to split a combined $1 million in funding to research the technology.  

By using two co-axial rotors spinning in the same direction, this new propeller tech promises to be quieter and more efficient.

 Uber

Building on this rotor partnership, Uber also announced a partnership with electric propulsion company Launchpoint Technologies on modeling, design and fabrication of novel electric motors built specifically for the stacked co-rotating rotors of the eVTOL concepts. One such concept image displayed during the Elevate conference showed the e-motors integrated into the rotors' hubs, potentially saving weight and space.

More from Uber Elevate Summit 2018

We're on location at the Uber Elevate Summit 2018, so stay tuned over the next day or so for even more details regarding Uber's plans for urban air travel.