As hydrogen-powered vehicles continue to develop, their use will likely become as niche as some existing land, sea and air transportation methods, such as a new deal that calls for helicopters powered by the green fuel used for organ transplants.
The agreement was signed between Unither Bioletronics and Robinson Helicopter Company. Unither is a Canadian company that specializes in the aerial delivery of lab-grown lungs with a focus on autonomy and environmental awareness. Robinson is a California-based company that manufactures specialized helicopters for clients such as news agencies, law enforcement, and private clients.
The collaboration is planned to result in a fleet of hydrogen-fueled electric helicopters based on Robinson’s R44 and R66 models. Once the birds are built and tested, the two companies are working to obtain certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transport Canada’s Civil Aviation Authority (TCCA).
“Just as protons from hydrogen atoms power the mitochondrial power plants in every cell of our bodies, we look forward to using protons from green hydrogen to power the membrane-based fuel cell power plants in our Robinson R66 organ delivery electric helicopters,” said Martine Rothblatt, CEO of Unither’s parent company, United Therapeutics. “We are honored to work with one of the world’s largest helicopter manufacturers as we continue to expand our track record of saving hundreds of lives through aviation transplanted lungs.”
Unither has made progress in developing electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (EVTOLs), which can be flown by a pilot or autonomously to carry the lungs it manufactures, as you can see in the video below.
UTODS Avionics User Interface
“This collaboration accelerates the development of sustainable transportation solutions for life-saving organs,” said Mikael Cardinal, head of the program. “Hydrogen-powered aircraft are the next frontier in sustainable aviation. We are committed to developing a fleet of zero operational carbon emissions aircraft and look forward to working with the expert team at Robinson Helicopter to secure regulatory approval and production of these aircraft.”
Sources: Robinson Helicopter Company, Unither Bioelectronics