Electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) represent the new frontier of urban transport systems.
Although the electric propulsion system is characterized by zero polluting emissions, an eVTOL can pose noise issues. This kind of vehicle exposes populated areas, normally not affected by aircraft noise, to acoustic discomfort beyond the usual city noise levels. Such problems may therefore limit the integration of the UAM into the conventional urban transport system.
DANTE project, funded by PRORA (National Aerospace Research Program), is developing a virtual approach to assess and reduce the acoustic impact of eVTOL aircraft, allowing the development of suitable technologies to ensure the community acceptance and the acoustic well-being of urban populations.
An eVTOL aircraft transporting passengers from Capodichino International Airport to Naples Business District has been envisaged for the first time, a route that can be covered in a few minutes and which represents a strong point for future urban air mobility.
