Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating aerial vehicle services are provided. A service entity system can obtain multi-modal transportation services data indicative of a plurality of anticipated aerial transportation service. The service entity system can obtain vehicle attributes associated vehicle(s) of an aerial vehicle provider and determine an expected performance of the vehicle(s) based on the vehicle attributes and the anticipated aerial transportation services. The service entity system can generate an aerial vehicle service request that requests access to the vehicle(s) for providing aerial transportation services for the service entity based on the expected performance of the vehicle(s). A vehicle provider system can obtain a number of different aerial vehicle service requests from a number of different service entities.

Abstract: Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can provide opportunities to incorporate aerial transportation into transportation networks for cities and metropolitan areas. However, VTOL aircraft can be sensitive to uneven weight distributions, e.g., the payload of an aircraft is primarily loaded in the front, back, left, or right. When the aircraft is loaded unevenly, the center of mass of the aircraft may shift substantially enough to negatively impact performance of the aircraft. Thus, in turn, there is an opportunity that the VTOL may be loaded unevenly if seating, luggage placement, and/or positions of internal components are not coordinated. Among other advantages, dynamically assigning the payloads and adjusting components of the VTOL aircraft can increase VTOL safety by ensuring the VTOL aircraft is loaded evenly and meets all weight requirements; can increase transportation efficiency by increasing rider throughput; and can increase the availability of the VTOL services to all potential riders.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for real-time planning and fulfillment of multi-modal transportation services in a multi-modal ride sharing network. In particular, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a computing system that creates an end-to-end multi-modal itinerary responsive to a user request for transportation service between an origin and a destination. The multi-modal itinerary can include two or more transportation legs that include travel via two or more different transportation modalities such as, as examples, via a car and via an aircraft.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for systems and methods for generating potential flight plans to be used by a ride sharing network, including dynamic and/or automated changes to flight plans that have been engaged with passengers based on real-time information. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can operate to generate a fleet-level set of potential flight plans which comply with one or more constraints for a fleet of aircraft. The potential flight plans can be exposed into and used by a ride sharing network to provide transportation to users.

Abstract: Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can provide opportunities to incorporate aerial transportation into transportation networks for cities and metropolitan areas. However, VTOL aircraft can be sensitive to uneven weight distributions, e.g., the payload of an aircraft is primarily loaded in the front, back, left, or right. When the aircraft is loaded unevenly, the center of mass of the aircraft may shift substantially enough to negatively impact performance of the aircraft. Thus, in turn, there is an opportunity that the VTOL may be loaded unevenly if seating, luggage placement, and/or positions of internal components are not coordinated. Among other advantages, dynamically assigning the payloads and adjusting components of the VTOL aircraft can increase VTOL safety by ensuring the VTOL aircraft is loaded evenly and meets all weight requirements; can increase transportation efficiency by increasing rider throughput; and can increase the availability of the VTOL services to all potential riders.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a multi-modal transportation service are provided. The method includes obtaining a request for an aerial transport from a user via user device and generating a multi-modal transportation itinerary for the user to facilitate the aerial transport of the user. The method includes determining a state change indicative of the progress of the user through the transportation service and adjusting an aerial software application running on an aerial device associated with an aerial service provider based on the state change. The method includes determining a subsequent state change occurring after the state change, determining a ground vehicle to provide a ground transportation for the user during another leg of the multi-modal transportation service based on the subsequent state, and adjusting a ground software application running on a ground device associated with the ground vehicle service provider based on the subsequent state change.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for systems and methods for generating potential flight plans to be used by a ride sharing network, including dynamic and/or automated changes to flight plans that have been engaged with passengers based on real-time information. In particular, the systems and methods of the present disclosure can operate to generate a fleet-level set of potential flight plans which comply with one or more constraints for a fleet of aircraft. The potential flight plans can be exposed into and used by a ride sharing network to provide transportation to users.

Abstract: A vertical landing and take-off aircraft VTOL transitions from a vertical takeoff state to a cruise state where the vertical takeoff state uses propellers to generate lift and the cruise state uses wings to generate lift. The aircraft has an M-wing configuration with propellers located on the wingtip nacelles, wing booms, and tail boom. The wing boom and/or the tail boom can include boom control effectors. Hinged control surfaces on the wings, tail boom, and tail tilt during takeoff and landing to yaw the vehicle. The boom control effectors, cruise propellers, stacked propellers, and control surfaces can have different positions during different modes of operation in order to control aircraft movement and mitigate noise generated by the aircraft.

Abstract: Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft can provide opportunities to incorporate aerial transportation into transportation networks for cities and metropolitan areas. However, VTOL aircraft can be sensitive to uneven weight distributions, e.g., the payload of an aircraft is primarily loaded in the front, back, left, or right. When the aircraft is loaded unevenly, the center of mass of the aircraft may shift substantially enough to negatively impact performance of the aircraft. Thus, in turn, there is an opportunity that the VTOL may be loaded unevenly if seating and/or luggage placement is not coordinated. Among other advantages, dynamically assigning the VTOL aircraft payloads can increase VTOL safety by ensuring the VTOL aircraft is loaded evenly and meets all weight requirements; can increase transportation efficiency by increasing rider throughput; and can increase the availability of the VTOL services to all potential riders.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a multi-modal transportation service are provided. The method includes obtaining a request for an aerial transport from a user via user device and generating a multi-modal transportation itinerary for the user to facilitate the aerial transport of the user. The method includes determining a state change indicative of the progress of the user through the transportation service and adjusting an aerial software application running on an aerial device associated with an aerial service provider based on the state change. The method includes determining a subsequent state change occurring after the state change, determining a ground vehicle to provide a ground transportation for the user during another leg of the multi-modal transportation service based on the subsequent state, and adjusting a ground software application running on a ground device associated with the ground vehicle service provider based on the subsequent state change.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating non-conforming services are provided. A service entity can collaborate with a number of vehicle providers to facilitate a multi-modal transportation service. The service entity can obtain demand information for real-time or predicted requests for multi-modal transportation services and schedules for facilitating portions of the multi-modal transportation services. The schedules can be scheduled by a number of different vehicle providers according to scheduling preferences. The service entity can leverage the demand information to determine a non-conforming service in addition to the schedules that does not conform to a scheduling preference of a vehicle provider and provide a request to the vehicle provider to schedule the non-conforming service.

Abstract: A vertical landing and take-off aircraft VTOL transitions from a vertical takeoff state to a cruise state where the vertical takeoff state uses propellers to generate lift and the cruise state uses wings to generate lift. The aircraft has an M-wing configuration with propellers located on the wingtip nacelles, wing booms, and tail boom. The wing boom and/or the tail boom can include boom control effectors. Hinged control surfaces on the wings, tail boom, and tail tilt during takeoff and landing to yaw the vehicle. The boom control effectors, cruise propellers, stacked propellers, and control surfaces can have different positions during different modes of operation in order to control aircraft movement and mitigate noise generated by the aircraft.

Abstract: Systems and methods for limiting facilitating a multi-modal transportation itinerary are provided. The system includes a service entity computing system and a vehicle provider computing system that collaborate to create and facilitate an end-to-end multi-modal transportation itinerary. This can include creating a flight schedule during a time window based on multi-modal transportation service data supplied by the service entity. The service entity can generate multi-modal transportation itineraries based on a request and the flight schedule. A rider can select an itinerary and, in response, the service entity can initiate and monitor a first ground leg of the itinerary. Deviations from the first ground leg can be provided to the vehicle provider which can delay or advance a flight based on the deviation. Likewise, deviations from an aerial transportation leg can be provided to the service entity which can delay or advance a second ground leg based on the deviation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing multi-modal transportation over a time period are provided. A system includes a simulation system configured to generate simulation data, a servicing system configured to generate servicing data, and a planning system configured to determine a multi-modal transportation itinerary based on the simulation and servicing data. The simulation data can identify a plurality of simulated flights performed in a simulated world corresponding to the real world. The system can determine the impact of scheduling a multi-modal transportation itinerary based on the impact of the multi-modal transportation itinerary on the simulated flights. The servicing data can include a servicing schedule that plans anticipated servicing events based on the impact of the servicing event to the simulated itineraries. Once scheduled, future simulated flights can be generated that account for the multi-modal transportation itinerary and the servicing schedule.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to aircraft vehicles, specifically vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft that include propellers. A propeller is coupled to a boom and the boom includes a boom control effector. The boom control effector is configured to direct the airflow behind or below the propeller. The boom control effector can be configured to control the yaw movement of the aircraft and mitigate noise from the propeller. A boom control effector can be a single effector or a split effector. The split effector may operate in conjunction with a boom that operates as a resonator to reduce noise produced by the propeller.

Abstract: An aircraft can include a stacked propeller to generate lift during assent and descent. The stacked propeller includes a first propeller and a second propeller that co-rotate about an axis of rotation. In one embodiment, the blades are coupled to a rotor mast that contains an internal cavity. In one mode of operation, the first propeller and/or the second propeller can be stored in the internal cavity in order to reduce drag during flight. The aircraft can include one or more stacked propellers, such as a port propeller and a starboard propeller, which rotate in opposite directions during one or more modes of flight.

Abstract: The present application describes a payload management system that routes a payload item associated with an individual from an origin to a destination. In some examples, the payload item is routed from the origin to the destination separate from a travel itinerary associated with the individual. For example, the payload item can be routed via a vehicle other than a VTOL aircraft that is assigned to the individual for a multi-modal transportation service.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating aerial vehicle services are provided. A service entity system can obtain multi-modal transportation services data indicative of a plurality of anticipated aerial transportation service. The service entity system can obtain vehicle attributes associated vehicle(s) of an aerial vehicle provider and determine an expected performance of the vehicle(s) based on the vehicle attributes and the anticipated aerial transportation services. The service entity system can generate an aerial vehicle service request that requests access to the vehicle(s) for providing aerial transportation services for the service entity based on the expected performance of the vehicle(s). A vehicle provider system can obtain a number of different aerial vehicle service requests from a number of different service entities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking objects throughout a multi-modal transportation service are provided. A system can obtain itinerary data identifying a number of transitioning point along a multi-leg transportation service. The system can obtain object data and associate a number of objects identified by the object data with a rider travelling along the multi-leg transportation service. The system can periodically determine the location of the objects while the rider transitions between each leg of the transportation service. The system can determine and initiate an object-check action based on the location of the objects. The object-check action can include facilitating a subsequent leg of the transportation service by providing information corresponding the subsequent leg when the objects are not separated from the rider or blocking the initiation of the subsequent leg or the termination of the current leg when an object is separated from the rider.

Abstract: A vertical landing and take-off aircraft VTOL transitions from a vertical takeoff state to a cruise state where the vertical takeoff state uses propellers to generate lift and the cruise state uses wings to generate lift. The aircraft has an M-wing configuration with propellers located on the wingtip nacelles, wing booms, and tail boom. The wing boom and/or the tail boom can include boom control effectors. Hinged control surfaces on the wings, tail boom, and tail tilt during takeoff and landing to yaw the vehicle. The boom control effectors, cruise propellers, stacked propellers, and control surfaces can have different positions during different modes of operation in order to control aircraft movement and mitigate noise generated by the aircraft.