Flying Delivery Van Takes First Flight in Barcelona

Описание: Watch the maiden flight of Grasshopper Air Mobility's revolutionary flying cargo van that can both drive on the ground and fly through the air. Join us at Barcelona Drone Centre as CEO Jakob Saalfrank demonstrates this game-changing technology that could transform how we move packages and industrial cargo.

SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES

*Hosts:*
Amad Malik:
  / amadmalik  
https://x.com/amadmalik
  / a.mad.av8r  
  / a.mad.av8r  

Nadia Pak:
  / nadezhdapak  
https://x.com/pak_nadia
  / nadiapak  

*Guest:*
Jakob Saalfrank (CEO & Co-Founder, Grasshopper Air Mobility):
  / jakob-saalfrank  
https://www.jakobsaalfrank.com

*Companies:*
Grasshopper Air Mobility:
https://www.grasshopperairmobility.com
  / grasshopper-air-mobility  
https://x.com/GrasshopperAirM
  / grasshopperairmobility  

BCN Drone Centre (Barcelona Drone Centre):
https://www.barcelonadronecenter.com
  / bcn-drone-center  
https://x.com/bcn_drone
  / bcndronecenter_  

TOPICS COVERED

• Maiden flight demonstration of Grasshopper's hybrid flight drive concept demonstrator
• How the vehicle transitions seamlessly between ground and air operation
• Revolutionary 360-degree training wheels that enable ground mobility
• Cargo container system with integrated battery and payload compartment
• Testing process at Barcelona Drone Centre, one of Europe's oldest drone manufacturers
• Grasshopper's journey from flying car concept to industrial cargo drone
• Current fundraising efforts, including EIC Pathfinder and Spanish innovation grants
• Vision for automated end-to-end logistics without human intervention
• Plans for Dubai Air Show and future prototype development

KEY TECHNICAL POINTS

**Tech Demonstrator vs Prototype**: This is a concept demonstrator that showcases the value proposition, rather than a fully autonomous prototype. It uses an existing drone platform modified with custom ground mobility systems.

**360 Degree Training Wheels**: Custom-made rover system with omnidirectional wheels mounted underneath the drone chassis, allowing the vehicle to manoeuvre in any direction on the ground before takeoff.

**Detachable Rover Design**: The ground mobility system can be removed with just 4 screws, making it rapidly serviceable. The drone weighs 8kg without a payload, 9kg with it. The rover adds about 500 grams.

**Integrated Cargo Container**: Battery and payload are housed in a single container that plugs into the drone from the bottom. This mimics the full-scale e350 design, where everything is automated for loading and unloading.

**Dual Antenna System**: One antenna handles telemetry data transmission while another manages manual control signals, both connecting to the flight controller that coordinates the four independent ground motors.

**Flight Controller Architecture**: Independent motors mounted directly on wheels with steel axles passing through the landing gear, ensuring the motor is free from weight load for a longer lifespan.

EPISODE & RESOURCES

*The Air Mobility Show:*
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3yZYWH1...
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
LinkedIn:   / theairmobilityshow  
Instagram:   / theairmobilityshow  
X: https://x.com/airmobilityshow
TikTok:   / airmobilityshow  

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction: Venturing out of the studio to Barcelona
00:37 On location at BCN Drone Centre with Jakob Saalfrank
01:24 Welcome back to the studio: Setting up the conversation
02:01 Proof of concept vs prototype: Defining the demonstrator
03:10 Value proposition and demonstrator goals
03:47 Technical walkthrough of the flight drive system
05:00 Rover attachment and serviceability details
05:49 Electronics housing and GPS integration
06:20 Dual antenna system explained
07:00 Flight controller and motor configuration
08:15 Maiden flight footage and testing highlights
12:30 Concept of the grasshopper: Why this design
15:45 Testing experience and hands on demonstration
18:20 Journey from flying car vision to cargo drone
21:30 Why pivot from passenger to cargo operations
24:00 Barcelona Drone Centre partnership and testing
24:42 Location advantages and testing environment
25:13 Fundraising updates: Current status and strategy
26:04 EIC Pathfinder and Spanish innovation grant applications
26:30 Angel investor opportunities and VC outreach
27:00 Dubai Air Show plans and global expansion
27:27 Progress update: From prediction to reality
28:07 Looking forward: Scaling Grasshopper to mass market
28:30 How to reach Jakob and investment opportunities
29:30 Closing thoughts and future field episodes

#AdvancedAirMobility #AAM #Drones #eVTOL #CargoDelivery #UrbanAirMobility #Logistics #AutonomousDrones