Flexcraft, a modular and remotely piloted aircraft concept that allows quick reconfiguration of the cabin for multiple missions, has won the International Design Awards (IDA) in the Transport Design category.

With the ability to land and take off on short lanes and use alternative energy sources, the concept seeks to foster ideas for transforming the future of air mobility, combining the human, technological, social and economic perspectives in a sustainable manner. IDA highlighted the passenger experience through the flexibility of fuselage design and new technologies.

Among the possibilities studied for usage are the transportation of passengers and cargo, support for civil protection activities, surveillance, aeromedical evacuation and agriculture.

The futuristic project was the result of a Portuguese consortium led by Sociedade de Engenharia e Transformação, SA (SET.SA) that brought together Embraer Portugal, Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Almadesign, Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial (INEGI), plus support from Embraer SA (Brazil). The initiative was funded by the Portugal 2020 programme, under the Operational Program Competitiveness and Internationalization through the European Regional Development Fund.

“This award is a recognition of Embraer and all partners efforts, innovation and scientific research for this conceptual project, which points out opportunities and paths for the transformation of future air mobility,” says Maurílio Albanese Novaes Júnior, head of research and technology development at Embraer. “We are also grateful for the initiative of the Government of Portugal, which, under the Incentive System for Research and Technological Development (SI I&DT) of the Portugal 2020 programme, promotes scientific research and trusts Embraer as a catalyst for the local chain and the development of the Portuguese aeronautics industry.”

The scientific research aimed to raise the critical technologies of this concept in an integrated way, such as configuration, flexibility solutions and production and material processes.

Through the Flexcraft project, it was possible to evaluate the development of new production processes, eco-efficient technologies and the integration of new materials, among other research fronts.