We are excited to announce that we signed a research contract with the US aerospace company Bell Textron Inc. to develop passenger decision models using both existing ground transportation and future air taxi transportation.

The work of our smart mobility team will help US aerospace company Bell Textron Inc. with a clearer picture of how to incorporate its state-of-the-art transportation solutions into existing public transport infrastructure. Bell is a pioneer of vertical lift design solutions, and the company believes vertical lift air taxis have the potential to improve connections and productivity in cities around the world.

Transit selection scenarios for a major US city

The team led by Jiří Vokřínek will model consumer decision-making regarding their choice of transportation, including personal auto, ride-share auto, rail, and bus transportation. The researchers will also model potential public preferences regarding future air taxi transportation and define processes for optimizing public transport network design to incorporate air taxis. Particularly, we will model transit selection scenarios for a major US city to simulate the decision-making processes and evaluate the effectiveness of vertiport facilities for air taxis based on their value for consumers and their potential for interface with other transit modes.

“This is a fascinating project in which we are proud to be involved,” says Jiří Vokřínek. “Bell has an admirable history of promoting cooperation and knowledge-sharing between the USA and the Czech Republic. In examining transport scenarios in the USA, our team will also be playing a part in the evolution of transportation around the world. We are eager to begin research work in support of Bell’s pioneering engineering developments.”

About Bell

Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is a pioneer of vertical lift design solutions. The contract between Bell and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering CTU is the latest chapter in the story of Bell’s affiliation with Czech partners. In 2019, the Czech Armed Forces ordered eight UH-1Y Venom multi-purpose helicopters and four AH-1Z attack helicopters from the Texan worth $630 million. The company also established its European Service Center in Prague, providing aircraft maintenance and customization for customers throughout Europe.

Bell has a history of cooperation with the CTU. At the height of the pandemic, the company provided financial assistance to support the university’s production of 3D-printed N95 masks, which were donated to military troops and law enforcement personnel. Bell believes vertical lift air taxis have the potential to improve connections and productivity in cities around the world and company's long-term presence in the Czech Republic led it to partner with the Artificial Intelligence Center FEE CTU for this groundbreaking project. ‍‍