A drone start-up based in Tokyo hopes to convince supercar collectors to trade their cars for a futuristic hoverbike worth $680,000 (£495,000).
A black and red XTurismo Limited Edition hoverbike went on sale in the city on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. ALI Technologies’ project is supported by Mitsubishi Electric and famous soccer player Keisuke Honda. Each hoverbike has a conventional engine and four battery-powered motors. The new toy car can fly for 40 minutes at a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles/hour ) on a single charge.
ALI Technologies and its partners demonstrated the drone-like hoverbike with a short flight a few meters off the ground. The test flight was conducted at a racetrack near Mount Fuji. The company wishes to offer a new method of movement. Until now, the option has been to move on the ground or at scale in the sky, ALI Technologies chief executive Daisuke Katano said during the launching event.
How promising is this Japan-made hoverbike? Is it worth the price tag? Let’s have a closer look at the main features of the XTurismo Limited Edition.
Features of the ALI Technologies XTurismo
- Weight-Reduction Technologies
Xturismo has lightweight, tough, and non-corrosive Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) used in almost all airframe components. It’s to significantly reduce the airframe’s weight and minimize driving energy consumption.
The main body of the hoverbike is developed in collaboration with Toray Carbon Magic Co., Ltd., which has world-class lightweight design technology and CFRP molding technology.
- High Efficiency Drive System
A highly efficient, tough, and lightweight drive system suitable for advanced air mobility. Co-developed with Toda Racing, which boasts a high track record in the world of motorsports and has unique processing technology.
- Internal Combustion Engine
Supplied by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, Kawasaki Motors, Ltd., the engine has top-class engine combustion technology in the field of motorcycles and has the industry’s highest level of performance, reliability, and quality.
It has a newly developed control unit that manages the movement of the hoverbike specialized for air mobility.
In addition to high performance and abundant functional safety with a strong record in mobility models, multiple RH-850 series manufactured by Renesas Electronics Corporation, which has built-in security functions required for advanced mobility applications, are installed.
Newly developed edge computing unit that oversees system control and connects to the cloud for a new era of air mobility. NVIDIA® Jetson AGX XavierTM series, manufactured by NVIDIA, includes hardware acceleration of the entire AI pipeline, has excellent scalability and flexibility, and is ideal for autonomous machines.
Source: ALI Technologies XTurismo Catalog
The Problem XTurismo Wants to Solve
Overcrowding is a significant problem in Tokyo. Based on the 2021 World Population Review, Tokyo is the most populated city in the world. Unfortunately, current laws will not allow hoverbikes to fly over Japan’s busy roads. Mr. Katano envisions that rescue teams can use his hoverbikes to reach hard-to-access locations.
Strict regulations in Japan regarding safety concerns prevented the growth of the transportation sector, particularly ride-sharing services. Mr. Katano also said that the pending amendment of laws could extend the hoverbike’s potential applications. ALI Technologies will manufacture a limited number of 200 units of single-rider 300-kilogram hoverbikes for delivery by the first half of 2022. They will start accepting reservations from prospective customers globally in January.
Yes, Hoverbikes Are Real!
Flying vehicles are only seen in Hollywood sci-fi movies until recently. Since 2014, an increasing number of companies are trying to commercialize their version of hoverbikes. As for potential customers, even the US Army is looking at how to use them.
Ben Gardner of Pinsent Masons said that vehicles that once seemed like the far-distant future were becoming more tangible every year. Soon, vehicles similar to Japan’s hoverbike will be seen in the United Kingdom. It’s not roadworthy yet under the existing laws in the UK. But, Mr. Gardner said investing in new technologies could prompt some changes soon.
The ongoing studies intended for emerging technologies such as driverless cars, autonomous robots, and drones prove that there will be new modes of transport available. When that happens, we will move out from the sphere of science fiction into the real world, Ben Gardner added.
The Future of XTurismo Limited Edition Hoverbike
The start-up taps the engine maker Kawasaki Heavy. Commercial success for ALI technologies would strengthen Japan’s industrial capabilities amidst the shift towards new technology such as autonomous and electric cars. The only downside, though, is the reportedly loud sound of the XTurismo’s engine. It is so loud that bystanders need to use earplugs to protect them from too much noise before the hoverbike takes off. ALI Technologies plans to manufacture a limited number of the featured model.
This hovercraft won’t enter the worldwide market anytime soon. ALI Technologies still have to conduct more safety and regulatory testing. Therefore, the company needs a few more months to make some modifications prior to offering XTurismo to the global market.
Funding Support
Funding is flowing to support the innovation. Venture capitalists, aviation corporations, even ride-sharing company Uber, with its Uber Elevate, are banking on the success of the promising automotive industry. Analysts say that the industry could reach as much as 1.5 trillion US dollars by 2040.
About ALI Technologies
ALI Technologies Inc. was established in September 2016 in Tokyo, Japan, led by Chairman Shuhei Komatsu and President / Chief Executive Officer Dausuke Katano. Presently, the group takes part in developing and operating manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, AI software, blockchain technologies, and cloud GPU services. Its growing clients include Hitachi Corporation, Kyocera Corporation, Mitsubishi, Kyushu Railway Company, and Misawa Homes Co. Ltd, Nagoya Railroad, Co., Ltd., TechnoPro Construction, Inc., and West Japan Railway Company.
ALI Technologies aspires to become a leader in advanced technology that opens new opportunities for both businesses and consumers.
For other tech news, read more here at Owner’s Mag!
