Analysis of the definition of Urban Air Mobility – how its attributes impact on the development of the concept
Marta Tojal, Henk Hesselink, A. Fransoy, E. Ventas, Víctor Gordo, Yigeng Xu
Abstract
In the past decade, technological developments have led to the unraveling of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). While the topic is gaining relevance worldwide, there is still not a common definition for this new mobility concept, which is of upmost importance to reach a consensus in the characterization of its operational concept. This paper compares different definitions of UAM from relevant organizations and initiatives which differ mainly in the typology of the aircraft, the business applications and the area of operation. This paper analyzes and discusses the attributes that create discrepancies across descriptions as to arrive at a definition of UAM that can be agreed upon all stakeholders. This will be key for aligning research efforts and allow the concept to evolve in the right direction.