Universa Takes to the Skies

Universa has joined the Blockchain.aero consortium that unites manufacturers, service providers, and software developers working to make mass urban aviation a reality.

Universa has joined the Blockchain.aero consortium that unites manufacturers, service providers, and software developers working to make mass urban aviation a reality. Rapid advancements in engineering allow for a completely new type of aircraft and infrastructure, but manufacturers don’t have to limit themselves to simply selling the product. By employing blockchain technology along with the sharing economy model they can provide a full-fledged service and collaborate in a common ecosystem.

Transport-as-a-service was Uber’s way of disrupting the taxi industry, and now the company itself is exploring the air taxi market. Uber, as well as Volocopter, Ehang, and Airbus are already performing successful test flights and forming partnerships. Volocopter recently flew their vehicle in Dubai while Uber struck a deal with a major real estate developer in Dallas and is successfully negotiating with the city authorities of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Universa and Blockchain.aero are ready to be at the forefront of the nascent industry in Russia and beyond. Universa can help its partners in numerous ways—from expert consulting to providing technical solutions. Apart from payment processing, which is nothing new for a blockchain platform, there are other opportunities for Universa to add value to the budding ecosystem, as Blockchain.aero aims to port every aspect of the flight to the blockchain, including device interaction, technical parameters of the vehicle, and more complex economic relationships such as renting or leasing.

Instead of relying on traditional imprecise and convoluted pricing mechanisms, the consortium will create a shared network for direct consumption and support of the aircraft technical resource. Battery charge, sensor data, distance traveled, even wear and tear of particular vehicle components can be tracked and managed in real time on the blockchain along with current demand and traffic network capacity. The flight itself can thus be tokenized via a dynamic, transparent and objective pricing algorithm.

For passengers, this would mean a more accessible, flexible, fast, and straightforward service.

For entrepreneurs, such a model would lower transaction costs, facilitate maintenance procedures, present real-time data for analytics, and provide a clear mechanism for direct settlement with partners. All of these benefits are not merely strategic—they will certainly show on the balance sheet.

For investors, an urban air travel token would be a worthwhile asset with tangible public value. As the network of real service consumers and providers potentially grows in reach and efficiency, it ensures the demand and liquidity of the token, thus aligning the interests of the investors and the public.

The users may not even be aware of the underlying technology, but a blockchain that manages to solve a crucial public problem such as traffic congestion is bound to thrive. It would be a system with guaranteed network effects and controllable performance. Universa and Blockchain.aero are seizing this opportunity as early as possible so that they can build a data-driven and robust network from the ground up, before a wrong choice of an outdated model slows it down.

Blockchain.aero partners Bartini and Gepard are already testing their own vehicle models. Their engineering challenges are by no means unsolvable. The $1.2 bln market estimate shows enough potential demand to fuel rapid progress in air travel technology.

This is a sponsored press release and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or views held by any employees of The Merkle. This is not investment, trading, or gambling advice. Always conduct your own independent research.