UrbanV has chosen Euthalia as its supplier of equipment for the protection of its vertiports from direct and indirect lightning strikes and surges. The incorporation of Antimpatto technology within Euthalia lightning protection systems, acting as a preventive measure, ensures comprehensive coverage of protected areas and guarantees uninterrupted service, prevents damage to electrical equipment and maintains the safety of all involved. UrbanV is actively working with Euthalia to integrate this lightning protection system into the design of vertiports so as to provide complete structural protection. The companies will create a pilot installation at UrbanV's Fiumicino test site, UV-0.

UrbanV aims to launch its first eVTOL service from Rome Fiumicino airport, extending to the heart of Rome by the end of 2024, in order to provide transport for visitors arriving in the city to take part in the Jubilee celebrations in 2025. From 2026 onwards, Rome's vertiport network will expand to over 10 locations, promoting fast and congestion-free travel between popular transit hubs and tourist attractions.

At the same time, UrbanV will launch vertiport networks in Venice, Bologna and along the Côte d'Azur, offering travellers a faster and greener alternative to busy city streets and traditional modes of transport. Over the next five years, the company plans to invest several hundred million euros in expanding its model on a European and global scale.

Euthalia will play a key role in the implementation of the UrbanV's future vertiport hubs, integrating structural protection while preserving their aesthetic appeal, and combining efficacy and functionality.

"At UrbanV, our mission is to improve people's lives by providing a fast, efficient, safe and environmentally friendly alternative for transporting people and goods over short distances by air," says CEO Carlo Tursi. "Our vision is to become a major global operator of vertiport networks, starting with Italy and France, where we are working with our founding partners to establish the first AAM routes on a global scale. We are delighted to be working with Euthalia, whose technological solution for aviation, developed in Italy but already appreciated worldwide, will increase safety levels at our vertiports. Together, we want to pioneer a groundbreaking and safe urban travel experience that prioritises not only infrastructure protection, but also the safety and satisfaction of our passengers."

"Since the creation of Antimpatto technology back in 1947, our company has remained steadfast in providing comprehensive protection for infrastructures and facilities, ensuring safety and liveability in a wide range of applications. It is indeed an honour for us to stand alongside UrbanV and our esteemed partners, showcasing Italy's remarkable ability to make a lasting impact on history," adds Euthalia CEO Luca Corradini. "Even within the industrial and service sectors, the Made in Italy label is a source of pride and admiration for our nation. Collaboration between companies committed to technological innovation is a driving force behind our involvement in this project: to contribute to the development of the world's safest and most reliable vertiport hubs."

UrbanV has also installed the Edge Company's BCMS (Bird Concentration Monitoring System), designed to combat bird strikes at airports, at UV-0. The Edge Company is a deep tech company specialising in AI, neural networks and deep learning. The system is currently undergoing testing and has started to capture images to map the local wildlife and address potential obstacles that may arise during air taxi flight phases. This initiative will enable UrbanV to monitor in real time any risks associated with bird strikes and uncooperative obstacles. The monitoring process is automated and environmentally friendly, facilitated by artificial intelligence. Video data captured by cameras is processed by AI networks, automatically aggregating a vast amount of verifiable data.

The test vertiport benefits from its strategic location within a designated 'regulatory sandbox', an experimental zone carefully selected and approved by the Italian civil aviation authority. This unique set-up allows the testing of complex interfaces between controlled airspace, similar to that of an international civil airport and the operational airspace essential for urban air services. Thanks to this sandbox UrbanV, together with Aeroporti di Roma, aims to support the national task force for the 'Implementation Plan of the Italian AAM Roadmap'.

In this context, the technology developed by The Edge in Rimini will be tested alongside a range of other beneficial technologies in a secure environment and in accordance with the principles of the CAA regulatory sandbox.

"The Edge Company has developed an automated bird monitoring system based on its extensive experience in the aerospace sector, combining cutting-edge technologies such as AI with natural sciences, revolutionising the approach to mitigating bird strikes," says CEO Fabio Masci. "Following a period of acceleration in France in 2018, where Airbus engaged us in anticipation of the forthcoming launch of new urban mobility initiatives, we adapted our BCMS system to cater to this emerging market, turning it into a non-cooperative obstacle detection."

In the realm of urban air mobility, any unexpected obstacle, whether it's a drone flying or a child playing, presents a safety risk that requires swift detection and reporting. "With our system, which has no electromagnetic emissions and can be safely installed even in residential areas, we ensure constant situational awareness. This added layer of safety benefits everyone, passengers and citizens alike," he concludes.