To Infinity and Beyond: iHub manager takes flight of a lifetime
Connect Derby operations manager Ros Stacey took the trip of a lifetime recently as she trialled a virtual reality flight over the iHub innovation centre on Infinity Park in Derby.
The virtual reality flight took place at the home of VRCO, an advanced aviation company, which is currently developing the NeoXCraft, a revolutionary flying car, from its home at the iHub.
The VR flight replicates the experience of taking your car to the skies, which it is hoped will become a reality when the NeoXCraft achieves its certification in 2020.
Stacey donned her VR headset and took control of the vehicle’s joy-sticks for the breath-taking experience, which once operational, could turn a two-and-a-half-hour drive into a 30-minute commute.
VRCO was co-founded by Daniel Hayes and Michael Smith. who have more than 30 years’ experience working with technology, engineering, manufacturing, product design and systems analysis.
The NeoXcraft is an electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) vectored thrust high-speed vehicle which will fly, drive on land, and land and take off on water. Using four high-powered fans, the NeoXCraft will be able to achieve speeds of up to 200mph after taking off. The fans will fold down to become wheels for land-based driving.
The craft has been under development by VRCO since 2016 in collaboration with the Institute for Innovation and Sustainable Engineering at the University of Derby.
VRCO are now developing the physical flying prototypes at the iHub and have benefited from verification services by AddQual, parts provision by Composite Braiding, fabrication work by HPS, Sensors from Quanergy and certification support by G&P, all of which are hosted in the iHub, bringing together an ideal eco system to support the building of the eVTOL NeoXcraft.
Stacey said: “It was amazing seeing the iHub from the skies. It’s such an out-of-this-world experience to even try the craft in virtual reality – I can’t imagine how incredible it’s going to be to actually travel in the NeoXCraft on a regular basis.
“Seeing the iHub in this way was quite an experience and has made me realise what an impressive building it is.”
The £12 million iHub, which has Enterprise Zone status, provides flexible workspace for businesses looking to establish themselves or expand their role in the transport engineering and hi-tech sectors.
