SkyDrive Conducts Successful SD-05 Flights in Yamaguchi for 2028 Tourism Initiative
- Published
- Source
- Dronelife.com
SkyDrive Inc. successfully conducted two demonstration flights of its SD-05 eVTOL aircraft in Yamaguchi Prefecture on July 13, 2026. These flights were part of a test aimed at showcasing the aircraft's potential for tourism, with a commercial launch planned for 2028. The flights simulated a scenic tour over the Seto Inland Sea, highlighting the seamless transition from ground transport to air travel.
The significance of these flights lies in their demonstration of SkyDrive's commitment to urban air mobility and tourism integration. Witnessed by notable figures including Yamaguchi Prefecture's governor and the president of Suzuki Motor Corporation, the flights operated autonomously, emphasizing safety and efficiency. The successful execution of these flights marks a critical step toward the company's goal of launching commercial eVTOL services by 2028.
Looking ahead, SkyDrive aims to enhance its eVTOL infrastructure further, with plans to collaborate with rail partners for integrated travel solutions. While tourism is a primary focus, the company envisions broader applications of eVTOL technology, including disaster relief and emergency medical services. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Original report
SkyDrive Flies SD-05 in Yamaguchi to Test 2028 Tourism Use Case
Dronelife.com · Ian McNabbThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
Rights concerns? Contact [email protected] with the relevant URL and details. We will review the matter and take appropriate action where warranted.
More related news
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
-
5
RobotToday Weekly October 12 – 16, 2026 RobotToday · 4 days ago
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Related Suppliers
SkyDrive
Japan
Japanese eVTOL maker pursuing Japan's first flying-car type cert; SD-05 three-seater demo-flew at Osaka Expo 2025.
Spin Robotics
Denmark
Danish cobot tooling company making the SD-Series brushless screwdriving systems for collaborative robot assembly applications up to 12 Nm.
Aqua Satellite
United States
Mountain View, California underwater-vehicle startup founded 2020 by Alan Eustace; builds AUVs rated to 500 meters with 4K, AI-assisted imaging.
X-Bow Systems
United States
Albuquerque rocket-motor maker using 3D-printed solid propellant (AMSP); launched the sub-$100K Buckler counter-drone interceptor in 2026.
Dhaksha Unmanned Systems Pvt. Ltd.
India
Chennai drone maker spun out of Anna University's CASR, with DGCA type-certified agri sprayers (DH-AGRIGATOR-E10, DH-AG-H1); majority-held by Coromandel.
Eve Air Mobility
United States
Embraer-majority eVTOL developer listed on NYSE (EVEX); builds a 100 km, 8-rotor lift-plus-cruise air taxi and the Vector urban air traffic software.
Air VEV
Israel
Israeli developer of the AIR ONE two-seat personal eVTOL and an unmanned cargo aircraft using its patented Fly-By-Intent flight control.
Autonomous Control Systems Laboratory (ACSL) 自律制御系统研究所
Japan
Japanese industrial drone manufacturer spun out of Chiba University, producing autonomous UAVs for inspection, logistics, and disaster response applications.
Sea Machines Robotics
United States
Boston autonomous marine technology company; SM300/SM200 systems enable remote and autonomous vessel control for commercial and defense maritime operations.
ExRobotics
Netherlands
Developer and manufacturer of ATEX/IECEx Zone 1-certified autonomous inspection robots for hazardous oil, gas, and chemical facilities.
Kraken Technology Group
United Kingdom
Fareham, UK maker of high-speed defence USVs (K3 SCOUT, K4 MANTA, K5 KRAKEN); $175m Series B in 2026, with Rheinmetall and Anduril production partners.
dolaGon
United States
Denver, CO startup (2019) making autonomous drive-by-wire UTV conversion kits and autonomous ski-lift vehicles using LiDAR and camera vision.
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
Join the RobotToday community on LinkedIn
Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.
