As the Airspeeder Series’ Official Intelligence Partner, Intel® Core® processor and Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors will help shape the sport to maximise its appeal to racers and fans alike.  

The new strategic sponsorship deal was revealed in a joint presentation at the Motorsport Show in Adelaide on March 25^th, where Adelaide-based Alauda unveiled its new Mk4 Airspeeder Mk4 – the first-ever piloted craft to take part in the Airspeeder race series.

At the vehicle and network level, devices powered by Intel Core processors and Intel Xeon Scalable processors are already providing pilots with enhanced real-time telemetry data, helping them and their engineering teams make informed, split-second decisions in the heat of competition. At the same time, Intel is collaborating with the Airspeeder design team on all technology aspects of the Mk4 Speeder whilst under development; from design to control to operations to give pilots the precise control so critical in high-speed, low-altitude racing. Underpinning all this is Intel’s commitment to making all aspects of computing and manufacturing more sustainable – a perfect fit with Airspeeder’s near-zero emissions propulsion system, based on pioneering electric and green hydrogen technology. 

This technical collaboration extends to pilot training simulators and the Race Day experience. Utilising Intel’s suite of high-powered Core and Xeon processing units, Airspeeder is revolutionising the way pilots train and race.

Intel’s Core and Xeon processors are integral to the MK3 Pilot Simulator, used by each of the Airspeeder EXA pilots for training purposes. On race day, Intel is powering the AR skytracks that the pilots race on with Core and Xeon processors, as well as the ground cockpits from which pilots control their remote racing craft. Additionally, Intel will be powering the Mk4 Simulators, already being tested by Airspeeder’s first-generation Mk4 pilots as they progress into crewed craft, flying in 2023 and racing in 2024.

After the race, Alauda’s engineering team can replicate the race data on a digital twin for vehicle performance analysis, while Airspedeer’s media team utilises it for broadcast and audience engagement, all powered by Intel processors.

This collaboration between Airspedeer and Intel is transforming the world of aerial motorsport and pushing the limits of what’s possible. By leveraging Intel’s cutting-edge technologies, Airspeeder is delivering an unparalleled experience for pilots, engineers, and fans alike.

Alauda is using Airspeeder racing as a platform to invest in, test and develop the new electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) technology critical for a connected and vertical-enabled mobility future. Leveraging Intel’s experience in pervasive connectivity, Alauda and will be able to push the boundaries of personal urban mobility further and faster than ever before. The concept of ‘electric flying taxis’ is already being actively pursued by major names including Uber, Daimler, Toyota, Hyundai and Airbus: Morgan Stanley estimates the sector could be worth $1.5 trillion by 2040.

“We’re incredibly excited to have Intel on board. The technology, insight and innovation it’s bringing to Airspeeder will transform our racing series, making it even more immersive and dynamic for pilots and spectacular for our audiences. Just as importantly, Intel’s ‘pervasive connectivity’ perfectly matches our vision of an always-connected, vertical-enabled future. Through the actionable insights provided by AI, we can achieve next-level eVTOL performance and control, which we see as the key to unlocking the future of private air mobility.”

Matt Pearson, Founder, Alauda & Airspeeder

“This is another example of Intel continuing to deliver the compute power needed to stretch the notion of what’s possible, make what was once science fiction a reality, and transform the way we live our lives. Helping Airspeeder bring this new concept to life has the potential to not only change the way we race, but also opens up endless possibilities in urban mobility.”

Andrew McLean, Managing Director ANZ, Intel

BUILDING A NEW SPORT

Airspeeder is the racing series conceived by performance electric flying car marque, Alauda. Elite pilots drawn from aviation, motorsport and even eSports will navigate electrically governed courses above some of the most visually arresting locations in the world.

Electric racing multicopters created by Alauda will fly at speeds of up to 130km/h. Airspeeder GP seasons will be contested by teams who will purchase the original craft and equipment from Alauda, the Airspeeder series’ exclusive manufacturer but will be given freedom to set race strategy and recruit pilots from a pool of elite pilot academy graduates. This will create a technologically even playing field, encouraging greater control for teams to dictate strategy. This approach has been compared to the highly successful Formula E racing series.

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Companies around the world are reaching new heights to develop flying cars that could one day be flown by commuters to work or even over longer distances for leisure travel.

UNSW aerospace design expert, Dr Sonya Brown from the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, says the aim of these vehicles is to eventually provide another means of urban air mobility to help reduce congestion on the road.

“Long-term, flying cars will offer us another means for short and personalised travel,” she says.

“We’re starting to see an emergence of flying car variants in development around the world, and even here in Australia, as more companies are investing in these vehicles.

“Some early adopters of these technology include rideshare companies and emergency services, given some vehicles are being designed to be more versatile than traditional aircraft and helicopters.”

What exactly are flying cars?

Flying cars resemble a cross between a drone and a small aircraft, so most will have wings and typically include between four to eight rotors.

They can fly a few hundred to a few thousand metres above the ground, occupying the air space above where you’d expect to see drones flying but below standard flying commercial aircrafts.

While it probably won’t get someone from Sydney to Melbourne on one battery charge, flying cars could potentially travel up to 250 kilometres in one ride.

“The underlying technology that’s so important with flying cars is the ability to both take off and land vertically and fly horizontally as well. This makes the mechanics much more complex than a helicopter which primarily has vertical propulsion,” says Dr Brown.

“And that’s why we’re calling them flying cars because they resemble the type of travel we would do with cars.”

A win for the environment

Prototypes of flying cars are currently being designed with electrically powered rotors meaning they can be battery operated. As long as the batteries are recharged in a sustainable manner, for example using wind or solar energy, the flying cars won’t emit any harmful emissions into the environment.

“Ideally, the aim is to design these green vehicles so that they reduce emissions whilst reducing traffic congestion on the ground as well,” says Dr Brown.

“With growing research in the renewable energy sector, I think there’s huge potential to consider other alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen, to power the flying cars in the future.”

Keeping the hand break up for now

Slow down – flying cars won’t take off just yet, there’s a few bumps to get over first.

Some of the challenges the industry is looking to solve are around regulation and traffic control. Similar to commercial flights, flying cars will need traffic control rules, corridors and flight paths to establish right of way to avoid any potential collisions.

“There’s a lot of work going into developing collision avoidance systems, particularly focusing on how these vehicles are going to communicate with each other to make real-time decisions on things such as right of way,” says Dr Brown.

“There’s also an appetite from industry to make them pilotless or remotely piloted.”

She says even though future flying cars models could be autonomous, users may need much more experience than a simple driving license to get behind the wheel of one.

“If we take a closer look at some of the flying cars in development, they are flown by highly trained and qualified pilots. But if we want to make them more accessible, then we need to bring the licencing requirements down,” says Dr Brown.

“It will be up to regulators and managing Government bodies around the world to work out what licensing category it fits into it – because currently there isn’t one.”

Flying cars also bring technical challenges such as battery life, particularly how many times it can be recharged before the battery duration starts to decline. Also, many of these vehicles can have up to eight rotors – which can be very noisy.

“More acoustic studies need to be done to try to minimise the noise of the propeller inside these rotors,” says Dr Brown.

“In the future, if there are going to be hundreds or even thousands of these occupying the skies above highly populated areas, it’s important that we consider the impact the noise will have for people in their homes below.”

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