NASA Tests Passenger Comfort in Air Taxis Using VR Simulation

NASA is working on figuring out what makes passengers feel comfortable or uncomfortable in air taxis by using a special VR simulation setup.

The space agency has been looking into air taxis for a few years and has tested various flying vehicles. Now, NASA is focusing on how comfortable passengers would feel in these air taxis, rather than just checking if the air taxis can fly.

Instead of using a real air taxi, NASA is using a flight simulator equipped with a virtual reality (VR) headset and a mechanical chair that mimics the movements passengers would feel in an air taxi. This simulation takes place in San Francisco and virtually transports passengers from a parking garage to the top of a skyscraper.

NASA pilot Wayne Ringelberg was the first to test this simulator to make sure it’s ready for a study that will start later in 2024. The research using this air taxi flight simulator is expected to continue for four years.

Ringelberg explained, “This project uses our research and test pilot team with experience in vertical lift to ensure the lab’s safety and accuracy before we start testing with real subjects. The experiments in the ride quality lab will help the advanced air mobility community understand how acceptable the movements of these aircraft are, making it more likely for the general public to embrace this new technology.”

The current air taxis are based on vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology, like the electric VTOL (eVTOL). Joby Aviation used this technology for tests in New York late last year, and Wisk plans to use it when they move from testing to real-world use by 2030.

NASA has also proposed its own version of VTOL called Revolutionary Vertical Lift Technology (RVLT). While it’s still VTOL at its core, NASA claims RVLT offers better efficiency, lower noise, and greater safety. ®