The Land Aircraft Carrier Is a Modular Flying Car in Two Parts
ARIDGE built a flying vehicle that separates into two working halves, each engineered for a different job.
Photo source:
ARIDGE
A Flying Car Split Into Two Working Halves
ARIDGE, formerly known as XPENG AEROHT, built
the Land Aircraft Carrier as a modular flying car made of two separate parts
instead of one: a ground vehicle and a flying aircraft that splits away from
it. The company describes it as the world's first mass-produced version of this
kind of vehicle.
The Flying Part Folds Away When It's Not Needed
The flying half is an electric vertical
take-off and landing aircraft, meaning it can lift straight up into the air
without needing a runway. It uses six rotors built into a dual-duct design,
where the spinning blades sit inside protective duct housings rather than
sitting fully exposed. Both the blades and the arms holding them can fold up.
That folding design is what lets the flying part fit onto or into the ground
vehicle when it isn't flying, instead of needing its own separate storage
space.
A Ground Vehicle Built to Carry Its Own Aircraft
ARIDGE calls the ground half a
"mothership," a 6x6 vehicle with all six wheels powered and
rear-wheel steering built in. ARIDGE states that combination gives it real
off-road strength for rough terrain, while still fitting into an underground parking
garage or a standard parking space. Its main job is carrying the flying
aircraft on the road between flights, keeping it protected and ready.
Power That Works On the Ground and In the Air
The whole system runs on what ARIDGE calls an
800V SiC range-extended power platform, a high-voltage electrical setup built
to move energy efficiently across both halves of the vehicle. According to
figures from Aridge's own lab, the combined range of the ground and flight
system reaches over 1,000 kilometers. A mobile supercharging station built into
the ground vehicle can recharge the aircraft's battery while the ground vehicle
is being driven or simply parked, and ARIDGE states a single full charge is enough
for up to 6 flights before it needs recharging again.
You have exceeded your free limits for viewing our premium content
Please subscribe to have unlimited access to our innovations.
Get The Latest In Innovation
Join Our Newsletter
Where bold ideas find bold readers.
