VFS at XPONENTIAL 2022

Leading Experts in Vertical Flight to Address AutonomyVFS & AUVSI

Are you planning to attend the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) XPONENTIAL 2022 in Orlando, Florida? Join VFS as we host a very special panel on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm EDT!

The future of vertical flight, especially for advanced rotorcraft and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for passenger and cargo delivery mission, will be greatly enhanced by autonomous flight, and there has been tremendous progress in this area in recent years. The Vertical Flight Society has brought innovative executives from the world’s leading vertical flight organizations together to discuss the progress towards autonomous flight.

Delivering On Autonomous Vertical Flight

Logistics, in its many forms, is emerging as a promising early market for electric and autonomous vertical-lift technology, including humanitarian relief, middle-mile deliveries, military resupply, fighting wildfires and transporting organs. Organized by the Vertical Flight Society, this program brings together key stakeholders to provide insights into the opportunities for automated air logistics, and manufacturers, detailing their progress in overcoming the technical and regulatory challenges. Attend to find out how close the industry is to deploying this transformational capability.

Organizers:  Ajay Sehgal, KBRBarb Lindauer, Sikorsky

Moderator: Graham Warwick, Aviation Week

Emcee: Ajay Sehgal, KBR

Panel 1 - Operations

As both military and commercial applications of autonomous and electric aircraft become a reality, operators and regulators discuss the opportunities and challenges around the introduction into an established aviation ecosystem of new and novel air vehicles ranging from cargo drones to crewed eVTOLs.

  • Sterling Alley, USAF Agility Prime
  • Robert Roedts, Columbia Helicopters
  • Jacob Rutledge, UPS Flight Forward
  • Andy Lachter, NASA Langley
  • Amanda Boekholt, Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation/JARUS

Panel 2 - Manufacturers

Research and development activities around fully autonomous aircraft are accelerating as the enabling technologies mature and the first use cases emerge, among them both military and commercial logistics. Leaders in government research, technology development and aircraft design discuss the progress being made.

  • David Merrill, Elroy Air
  • Romin Dasmalchi, Kaman
  • Sanjiv Singh, Near Earth Autonomy
  • Wes Ryan, NASA Ames
  • Dr. Michael Romanowski, FAA

From electric air taxis to unmanned helicopters, this interactive panel will field your questions about large autonomous VTOL platforms. 

There will be coffee and refreshments served. Go to the VFS XPONENTIAL 2022 event page for more information and to register.

This is a co-located event at XPONENTIAL, and the registration fee ($199) includes an XPO hall pass. 

Sign up today!


Updated March 22, 2022