As pressure on transportation systems increases, so does the need to better utilize our shared airspace. At Chalmers University of Technology, researchers are developing next-generation aerial mobility technologies. They envision a near future in which drones and other small airborne vehicles are a natural part of daily life—integrated into everything from passenger and freight transport to emergency response, law enforcement, and agriculture.
“The pace of development in this field is dramatic,” says Patxi Rodriguez Acero, research engineer and pilot.
For years, drones were viewed mainly as recreational gadgets. But the war in Ukraine has drastically shifted public and political perspectives on their utility. According to Rodriguez Acero, who works at the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, the use of military drones in the conflict highlighted a wide range of potential applications for civilian use - raising awareness among both policymakers and the general public.
“Since then, development has really taken off. There’s currently massive investment going into research and development of this kind of vehicle,” he explains.
Rodriguez Acero, a trained pilot and aeronautical engineer, has led the AMES research and development project at Chalmers for the past two years. The project investigates how airborne, unmanned vehicles - designed with safety and communication in mind - can be integrated into the complex, multi-layered transport environments of the future, where both autonomous and human-operated ground vehicles will coexist.
This will be increasingly essential as cities continue to grow.
“The UN estimates that around 80 percent of the world’s population will live in urban areas by 2050. Our current transport systems simply won’t be able to meet that demand and must be adapted to the new reality. That’s why we’re exploring the use of a third dimension—urban airspace—which remains vastly underutilized today,” he says.
A new layer to the transport system
Drones and other airborne vehicles designed for transporting people and goods are often referred to as Urban Air Mobility (UAM) vehicles. They are typically small, electrically powered, and capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). Today, most are remote piloted or manned, only a small number are fully autonomous, but technology is pushing to remove humans from the equation.
“UAM was developed as a new mean of aerial transport. They are hybrids hybrid between current low volume surface transport and helicopters which are considered low volume aerial transport. They’re not meant to replace existing transport systems, but to complement them,” Rodriguez Acero says.
The benefits of aerial mobility are substantial. In emergency scenarios, such as firefighting and rescue operations, UAM vehicles offer new capabilities without risking human lives.
“When wildfires swept through Greece a few years ago, several rescue workers died while attempting to drop water from a water bomber aircraft. Today, drones are being developed with the goal of being able to move more efficiently than helicopters, boats, or other small vehicles, and to be able to release several tons of water over burning areas,” he explains.
Healthcare and emergency response: Key use cases
Rodriguez Acero believes the most immediate breakthroughs for UAM vehicles will happen in essential public services, including rescue operations, ambulance services, and medical deliveries, both in urban centers and remote regions. These use cases are also likely to gain early public acceptance.
“Drones are already used to assess wildfires. There are also pilot projects involving drones delivering blood and medications to islands and hard-to-reach locations,” he says.
He continues:
“Helicopter ambulances are extremely costly to purchase and operate. And given that there are only six such helicopters in all of Sweden, UAM ambulances could become a critical complement to the healthcare system”
Challenges: safety and public trust
In agriculture, more and more farmers are switching to drone technology for tasks like crop spraying and monitoring. Looking further ahead, Rodriguez Acero foresees UAM vehicles becoming a natural part of city transport, serving everything from cargo deliveries to air taxis. The potential applications are many, including law enforcement and border patrol.
However, before widespread adoption becomes reality, several challenges remain.
“The technological development is advancing at an incredible pace, with a strong focus on making UAM vehicles as safe and reliable as possible. But social acceptance is a different matter. It is hard to predict in advance how people will react to the sound or wind disturbance caused by these vehicles. Regulations will address many of the challenges - but legislation alone won’t change public perception,” he notes.
Rodriguez Acero believes public attitudes will shift over time, especially as the benefits become more visible. But this transition will require smart strategies and clear, sensible regulation.
Looking ahead: a sky-filled future
In the not-too-distant future, Rodriguez Acero expects UAMs to be a far more common sight - especially in cities.
“In an increasingly urbanized world, we must make better use of the airspace to maintain vital services and public infrastructure. Within a few years, we’ll likely see clear regulations for UAM operations, which will drive a sharp rise in private sector activity in this space. By 2050, UAMs may be a routine part of our transportation systems,” he predicts.
“I believe more and more people will recognize the benefits. The technology enables faster, more flexible transport options - at a significantly lower cost,” he says.
- Research Engineer, Fluid Dynamics, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences