GoKawiil
Tech News
Aridge, backed by Chinese robotics and auto firm Xpeng, showcased its Land Aircraft Carrier system at Web Summit in Lisbon, a two-part vehicle combining a 5.5-meter ground van with a foldable eVTOL aircraft that fits inside it. Founder Deli Zhao said the eVTOL, which has six rotors and can fly as high as a helicopter for about 19 miles, can be piloted by anyone after just five minutes of training, or flown autonomously.
Florida Polytechnic University's campus police, working with Swedish company Jetson, unveiled the Astro, a single-seat electric vertical-takeoff aircraft based on the Jetson ONE. The 154-pound vehicle cost $150,000, flies for only about 20 minutes, reaches speeds near 65 mph, and has not yet received FAA approval, according to local station Fox13.
Aviation experts say any version of Tesla's Roadster 2 capable of flight would need FAA certification, a process that could take at least a year, plus clearance to operate in national airspace. Pilots would likely need a recreational aviation license rather than a standard driver's license, and most states restrict takeoffs and landings to airports or designated helipads rather than public roads.
Joby Aviation flew a converted Cessna Caravan more than 3,100 miles across the U.S. using its autonomy software to handle taxiing, takeoff, navigation and landing without pilot intervention, though a pilot remained onboard for regulatory compliance. The flight was remotely monitored from Joby's California headquarters and Shaw Air Force Base, and the aircraft is set to continue touring cities like Louisville and Salt Lake City before returning to the West Coast.
A federal Advanced Air Mobility pilot program launched its first state trial in Texas, with eVTOL makers Joby, Beta, and Wisk flying uncrewed test routes between cities and regional airports, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, over the next week. The flights aim to show how air traffic control handles increased eVTOL activity and to gather data ahead of formal certification.
Ken Karklin has stepped down after more than four years as CEO of Pivotal, the electric vertical takeoff and landing company backed by Larry Page. The company says he is pursuing new opportunities and gave no further details. Board member Mike Ross, an aviation executive who joined in November 2025, will serve as interim CEO.