AMI-FlyingIN2Air

Development of a digital AAM airport integrated into the intermodal travel chain for acceptance, user, and design studies in preparation for physical implementation

In addition to the creation of a technical and regulatory framework, the successful introduction of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) requires broad support in society, both from potential users (private and business customers) and, in a special way, from affected non-users (e.g. residents).

Our focus in this project is the work package AP5, the so-called customer experience factors and acceptance criteria for the introduction of passenger eVTOLs. For this purpose, the interaction between (non)users and the system/provider is examined in AP5.1. Those aspects that are of the greatest importance for the future realization of AAM will be iteratively examined in AP5.3 with physical ones (including enactment studies) and in AP5.5 in participatory user workshops using virtual prototypes (3D models, VR environment), examined at different levels of detail and acceptance criteria derived/design requirements identified. In the parallel running AP5.2 (creation of a 3D visualization of an eVTOL flight route), AP5.4 (first version VR environment), and AP5.6 (digital twin), taking into account the results from the user studies, the VR environment available at the end of the project. The realized prototypes are tailored to the aspects to be examined (e.g. vertiport design, the interior design of the eVTOL, service offers, acceptance for users/public acceptance of non-users, user journey/travel experience).

The Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt is also involved in APs 4 and 6, AP4 primarily by supporting the definition of requirements for a digital platform and the optimization of the developed demonstrator, e.g. through a usability evaluation. In AP6, citizen participation in the city of Ingolstadt is supported by adapting the 3D environment/”digital twin” for use in a city “showroom” or preparing it for worldwide access (e.g. download as an app).