AVL mobility accelerates ground, air and space technology – Geospatial World
AVL, a technology mobility pioneer since 1948, is now rising from the ground to technologies in air and space, as demonstrated at a press conference today at the Consumer Electronics Show. Partners Northrop Grumman and Eviation highlighted some of their latest air and space technologies developed jointly with AVL.
“For years AVL has been leading the charge in automotive and ground mobility,” said Stephan Tarnutzer, President of AVL Mobility Technologies, Inc.
“What we are learning with our projects in air and space is pushing the envelope even further. Imagine the energy needed to power an aircraft during takeoff or the thermal management needed to optimize a battery system in the extreme climate of outer space. AVL is able to take these extreme use cases and apply the lessons learned to other mobility sectors, which in turn leads to new applications and more efficient solutions.”
At the press conference, former astronaut Rick Mastracchio, director of business development at Northrop Grumman, highlighted Northrop Grumman’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) concept.
The LTV, part of NASA’s Artemeis program to return astronauts to the moon, will be an essential vehicle to transport astronauts and experiments on the lunar surface.
“Our vehicle design will offer sustainable, flexible, and affordable logistics support for enhanced human and robotic exploration of the lunar surface and, ultimately, Mars,” said Mastracchio. “Our partnership with AVL will help deliver lunar mobility for future generations.”
Eviation Aircraft demonstrated the future of aviation in September 2022 with the first flight of Alice, an all-electric commuter eCTOL (electric conventional take-off and landing) aircraft.
Alice is a catalyst to restoring short-haul flights, which have historically contributed more carbon emissions than long-haul flights. Alice is positioned to enable regional air travel that is carbon-free and economically viable.
“Electric conventional take-off and landing aircraft, like Eviation’s Alice, represent the most promising sector of advanced air mobility. The Alice, designed from scratch around the requirements of electric propulsion, is leading the shift towards carbon-free, cost-effective, and convenient air travel,” said Gregory Davis, President and CEO of Eviation.
We value AVL’s contributions to the energy storage systems for the first flight of Alice as we lead the industry into the electric age of aviation and usher in a new era of environmental sustainability.”
