10166951Project URBAN ASCENT - Lifting Cities into the Future of FlightClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKUrban Ascent will outline how UK cities can get ready for and embrace the upcoming generation of air mobility services, such as electric air taxis and drone deliveries. This project will create a roadmap for scalable operations, regulations, and infrastructure that will enable the safe and sustainable integration of drones and eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) into daily urban life, with a particular focus on Coventry and the West Midlands. Coventry University, Skyfarer, Altitude Angel, The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), and SlinkTech are among the innovative UK organisations that are part of Urban Ascent, which is led by Coventry City Council. To make sure that new aerial technologies satisfy practical needs, the project will interact with a variety of end users, including emergency services, estate managers, NHS Trusts, and logistics teams. The project will explore: * What infrastructure (such as vertiports and take-off/landing sites) is needed in cities * How safety, automation, and air traffic systems can be integrated with local planning and transport networks * How regulatory frameworks---both aviation and non-aviation---can be aligned to enable operations * What economic, environmental, and social benefits these services can deliver to the public Urban Ascent will set the groundwork for cities throughout the United Kingdom to become "drone-ready" by generating a comprehensive Concept of Operations (ConOps), an investment-grade business case, and a proven infrastructure framework. A technological demonstration in the real world will also be part of the project, showcasing SlinkTech's automated PORTAL system for drone and eVTOL landing safety. Urban Ascent expands on Coventry's demonstrated history of advancing transport innovation, which includes the first eVTOL hub demonstration in the UK and the first medical drone delivery trials. Technical know-how in engineering design, public sector integration, and unmanned traffic management underpins it. The project's results will be disseminated across the country, assisting in the formation of public policy, directing upcoming investments, and empowering the UK to take the lead in the creation and application of advanced air mobility technologies. From September 2025 to March 2026, Urban Ascent, which is supported by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Flight Challenge, will provide innovative, inclusive, and useful solutions for air transport in our towns and cities.