SAE Update - January 2023 - 21

TECH FOCUS:
ElECTriFiCATiON
Recent advancements in electric
vertical takeoff and landing
(eVTOL) aircraft have generated
significant interest within and
beyond the traditional aviation
industry. Many novel applications
have been identified and are
under development.
One promising application is
for last-mile (and middle-mile)
military transport and logistics,
which can complement current
mission capabilities and enhance
operational readiness.
With the dynamic and varying
global challenges facing military
operations, eVTOL aircraft can
offer timely, on-demand, and
potentially cost-effective aerial
mobility components to the
overall solution. Rapid response
to operational needs could
translate into enhanced mission
capabilities, preservation of
lives, and increased
effectiveness through timely
transport of personnel and
cargo.
Current eVTOL aircraft may
not have the payload capacity
for aerial transportation of heavy
equipment or a large volume of
supplies, but - for targeted
missions - they can be valuable
in select military applications.
However, some challenges need
UPDATE
Downloaded from SAE International by SAE International [Sales Team], Tuesday, November 22, 2022
The Use of eVTOL
Aircraft for Military
Applications: Last-mile
Transport and Logistics
Johnny Doo
EMERGING ISSUES IN NEW MOBILITY
The report's author, Johnny
T. Doo, is the President of
international Vehicle
research, inc., focusing on
innovative flight vehicle and
electric vertical takeoff and
landing (eVTOl)
technologies and unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV)
development and
applications.
to be addressed before identified capabilities and
benefits can be realized at scale. These include
mission-specific eVTOL vehicle development, detectand-avoid
capabilities in complex and challenging
operating environments, autonomous and artificial
intelligence-enhanced mission capabilities, charging
system compatibility and availability for batteryelectric
vehicles, simplified operator and support
training, vehicle/fleet logistics and support, as well as
secured supply-chain management.
Acceptance from stakeholder services, military
leadership, field commanders, and operating and
support team members is also critical for the
successful implementation of these new
competencies.
A new SAE Edge Research Report, The Use of
eVTOL Aircraft for Military Applications: Last-mile
Transport and Logistics, explores the challenges that
need to be addressed before identified capabilities
and benefits can be realized at scale, including:
* Mission-specific eVTOL vehicle development
January 2023
21
SAE International

https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/epr2022025 https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/epr2022025/ https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/epr2022025/ https://www.sae.org/publications/technical-papers/content/epr2022025/

SAE Update - January 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAE Update - January 2023