Abstract
With the expansion of cosmopolitan areas resulting in an increase of traffic and overcrowding came the creation of the urban air mobility (UAM) market. One technology that has been growing swiftly within the UAM market in the last decade is that of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. This paper tackled the reliability and safety analysis of eVTOLs by using Six Sigma tools and the DMAIC (Design, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) process to establish design recommendations that can improve and facilitate the integration of eVTOLs to the public. Based on the gathered results, it is recommended that an eVTOL have a robust sensor system, frequent and rigorous maintenance schedules, and redundant airbags and air filters. If wing structures are utilized in the framework, it can be recommended that the eVTOL have them mounted on the lower half of the fuselage. To operate an eVTOL, it is recommended that the training process be meticulous, as human error was a leading cause in failure modes and autonomous flight will take time to fully mature. Furthermore, it is recommended that more battery testing for eVTOLs be conducted in order to achieve the high capacity needed for takeoff and landing. Overall, this paper expounded upon the potential for further testing and research with regards to the current and future development of eVTOLs such that safety drives design rather than responding to tragedies.
