Tech Briefs: What got you interested in this project?
Charles Wade: I’ve always been interested in 3D printing in general, especially the design side. Growing up I struggled to understand engineering, especially math, but 3D printing provided a tactile and visual way to do it. So, that’s what got me into this — I can do what I do as a computer scientist, write code, and also fabricate something in the real world that I can touch and feel.
Just three months after announcing a partnership with defense contractor L3Harris, Joby Aviation flew the new hybrid version of its flying car concept that’s been repurposed for military use.
The first flight of the turbine electric, autonomous vertical take-off and landing aircraft took place on November 7 at the company’s facility in Marina, California, Joby announced on Thursday. The California startup is known for developing all-electric air taxis for short, yet pricey, trips in places like Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Its new hybrid aircraft, however, is geared toward defense customers.
“It’s imperative that we find ways to deliver new technology into the hands of American troops more quickly and cost-efficiently than we have in the past,” JoeBen Bevirt, CEO and founder of Joby, said in a statement.
Prepare for takeoff
The new aircraft builds on Joby’s existing technology for its air taxis, integrating a hybrid turbine powertrain with the company’s SuperPilot autonomous flight system. That way, the new aircraft is designed to carry heavier payloads and travel longer distances than the current battery-powered version.
Through its partnership with L3Harris, Joby will also add sensors, surveillance, communications systems, and mission equipment onto the aircraft so that its vehicle can be repurposed for use by the military.
“The magic of dual-use technology is that it creates value in both directions,” Bevirt said. “By building on our proven technology stack, our partners can rapidly deliver new capabilities for the Department of War while we benefit from advancing the maturity of our hybrid and autonomous systems.”
Joby is hoping to cash in on a growing demand by the U.S. military for autonomous and hybrid aircraft. The company noted that the government has allocated roughly $9 billion in the 2026 budget to go toward developing next-generation aircraft.
“The next generation of vertical lift technology enables long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming for a range of missions,” Jon Rambeau, president of Integrated Mission Systems at L3Harris, said in a statement. “We share a vision with Joby to deliver urgently-required innovation by missionizing VTOL aircraft for defense applications.”
Joby will continue to test its new aircraft on the ground and in flight, and the company is hoping to begin operational demonstrations with government customers by next year.
A few months ago, Porsche showcased its wireless charging system for vehicles. It has all the potential to change the EV charging landscape, as it aims to reduce the need for wallboxes or large charging stations. With its compact packaging, Porsche says charging at home will be a lot easier. We also reckon it has a practical use in EV fleets, too.
It’s about to roll out soon and will be an optional extra for the upcoming Cayenne EV. The question is, how does it work?
Porsche
The Setup
The charging pad measures 2.3 inches tall, 78 inches wide, and 46 inches long. It’s then activated by the driver’s phone, and the charger and vehicle will request for a password to begin charging. Porsche says it only needs to be done once, and the system will automatically start the next time the vehicle drives over the pad thanks to an integrated wi-fi module.
The pad is plugged into a power source that then converts AC into DC voltage. The device weighs 33 pounds, or about as much as a toddler. One of the built-in safety features is that it automatically stops when an obstruction is detected (such as a pet or a curious child), and resumes once it’s no longer there.
Charge is transferred via two copper coils. A current is sent to one, while the second one amplifies it from the magnetic field generated by the system. That field allows wireless charging to be possible. It’s a similar arrangement to wireless chargers for mobile devices, but Porsche had to repackage it in a way that it remains compact enough for automotive application. Scaling up wasn’t an option.
Porsche
How’s the Charging Rate?
What’s interesting here is that charging plate has a voltage of 85 kHz and 2,000v in an oscillating circuit. That allows it to send a charge upwards into the vehicle’s battery if it’s not perfectly aligned by up to four inches. Of course, the car can’t trip up the charger if it’s way out of line.
All in all, the system produces 11 kW of charging power. For reference, most home charging systems out out 3 to 7 kW, while your typical public charging station does about 11 to 22 kW. Okay, it’s not a rapid charger, but at least it’s gentle on the vehicle’s batteries, ensuring battery health in the long run.
Porsche
Porsche says that it will continue to develop its vehicle wireless charging tech down the line. From there, we can expect quicker charging rates, as well as more clever packaging in years to come.
How much is it, then? It’s about $8,000 including installation at current conversion rates. Not exactly cheap as home chargers are about ten times less (sans installation), but at least it charges faster than most home systems. Well, nobody said that new technology ever came cheap.
As for the first-ever Porsche Cayenne EV, the full reveal will be on November 19.
