Developing A New Kind of Mobility in the Shape of Hoverbikes - Taiji Itoh, Chairman of A.L.I. Technologies

Could hoverbikes be the next big thing in mobility? A.L.I. Technologies thinks so. The Japan-based company has conducted flight demonstrations of its XTURISMO hoverbike in Abu Dhabi and Japan through its subsidiary AERWINS.

A.L.I.'s story dates back to 2016, when it started developing custom-made drones for the infrastructure industry to address the labour shortage. It quickly expanded their focus to include unmanned traffic management (UTM) systems, a crucial component of managing the increasing number of unmanned aerial vehicles in the sky.

However, a by-product of its mission to create air mobility solutions was the XTURISMO. The personal aerial mobility product is a sleek and futuristic aircraft designed for individual use.

“The XTURISMO Limited Edition is the first of a series of Air Mobility vehicles produced by A.L.I. It features two main propellers, powered by a custom internal combustion engine jointly developed with Kawasaki, and four sub propellers that are powered by lithium-ion batteries," Taiji Itoh, CEO of AERWINS and Chairman of A.L.I. Technologies, tells Auto Futures.

“In future models of XTURISMO, we plan to incorporate more sustainable power sources, such as fully electric or hydrogen. However, for this model, we decided to take advantage of the precision engineering available to us by our partners in the automotive industry. In doing so, we would like the XTURISMO to act as a link between the current world of mobility and the future that lies before us. Additionally, seeing as gasoline is far more energy dense compared to current technologies, using ICEs affords us a flight time of 40 minutes, depending on flight conditions," he says.

“An important feature of the XTURISMO is the size; we had to design custom propellers that would provide enough thrust to lift the machine and operator, while still limiting the footprint to that of a conventional car.”

Itoh admits that - when talking about the hoverbike - people are most eager to hear about safety and what features have been included to help operators minimise risk.

"Prospective purchasers should rest assure that every feature of the XTURISMO has been developed with safety in mind. For example, this model features an altitude limiter that prevents flights above 5 metres. We believe that this will still provide an exciting experience, while keeping a safe distance to the ground in case of emergency landings,” he explains.

A Path Less Travelled

Itoh believes that, when the XTURISMO hoverbike technology is integrated into cities, it will not only save a lot of time, but also relieve traffic congestion and reduce reliance upon physical infrastructure.

Additionally, A.L.I.’s integrated software enables users to manage flight data, monitor machine health, and enhance in-flight safety functions for the operator and surrounding individuals.

According to Itoh, the XTURISMO’s value proposition goes far beyond personal mobility. For starters it can help transport medical personnel or supplies, or search and rescue during times of crisis. Moreover, given the A.L.I.’s involvement in the drone racing scene, hoverbike racing is likely to be a natural extension.

While A.L.I has been accepting international orders for the XTURISMO, it is releasing the first model in limited numbers for now.

“This is definitely a path less travelled,” says Itoh, elaborating on some of the challenges the company has faced.

“In terms of engineering, it was certainly a challenge for our engineers to create a flying machine that could operate for extended periods of time holding the weight of a 300kg machine in addition to the weight of the passenger. On the business side of things, there is very little in the way of regulations and insurance regarding air mobility, so we’ve been working closely with our partners and governmental agencies in order to forge a path forward."

Meeting The Needs of The Market

A.L.I has also created COSMOS, an advanced unmanned traffic management (UTM) system, to manage the growing number of drones in the sky. One of its key features is swarm control, which enables multiple drones to be controlled simultaneously. 

COSMOS also features remote control capabilities in case of local connection failure, and flight automation, which enables autonomous flight along pre-programmed routes. Extensive testing has been conducted to ensure its reliability and compatibility across different drone platforms.

These features make COSMOS an efficient and versatile UTM system that is suited for various applications, including package delivery, surveying, and inspections.

“In early 2023, we conducted a flight test in Yas Bay, Abu Dhabi to great success. Through the creation of a joint venture company based in UAE, we plan to conduct research and design in order to work on future models, as well as sales activities in the GCC region. We are especially focusing on business development targeting government and government entities of the United Arab Emirates,” says Itoh. 

The company has plans to expand its various offerings to a variety of industries and markets.

"For example, we see potential for our hoverbike technology to be utilised in areas such as tourism, search and rescue, and law enforcement. We also plan to collaborate with other companies and organisations to further develop and customise our technologies to meet specific business needs."

"In addition, we plan to expand our unmanned traffic management, COSMOS system to include more features and capabilities, to help local municipalities in the implementation process. We are committed to continuously improving and innovating our products to meet the evolving needs of the market, and to stay at the forefront of the air mobility industry,” he adds.

A Commitment to Safety

As our conversation drew to a close, I was curious to know what the road ahead looked like for a company with such unique offerings.

“I recognise that this industry is still in its early stages and that there are many challenges ahead of us. However, we believe that the potential benefits of air mobility are too significant to ignore, and we are committed to overcoming these challenges to bring this technology to the general public,” says Itoh.

One of its biggest challenges is the construction of a manufacturing pipeline. It is investing heavily in R&D to improve the efficiency and reliability of the XTURISMO in preparation for the future models, while also building a robust supply chain that can support mass production of air mobility products.

Another challenge is regulatory approval and certification.

“As air mobility is a new and disruptive technology, there are many regulatory hurdles that we must overcome before we bring our product to the general public. We are working closely with regulatory authorities to ensure that our product meets all safety and performance requirements, while also advocating for a regulatory framework that encourages innovation and supports the growth of the industry at large," he says.

“Finally, we recognise that public perception and acceptance of air mobility will be critical to our success. We are committed to engaging with communities, stakeholders, and the public and to address any concerns they may have. We believe that by working collaboratively with all stakeholders, we can build a future in which air mobility is safe, efficient, and accessible to all.”

“To sum up, the road ahead for our company will be challenging, but we are confident that with hard work, perseverance, and commitment to innovation and safety, we can build a better future for air mobility,” Itoh concludes.