At D3 Technologies, a number of well-known minds from the startup and aviation world are working on a kind of digital air traffic control for the airspace above cities. Their goal: an infrastructure for flying taxis, delivery drones, and autonomous aircraft, or as the founders themselves put it: "We're building the roads of the air." The founders share more in an interview.
Munich Startup: Who are you and what do you do? Please introduce yourselves briefly!
D3Billions are currently being invested in urban aviation. Engineers are developing air taxis, but there are no approaches to safely regulate their traffic. Simply put, this means we need roads and traffic lights in the air. Therefore, we ask: What is the safest and most efficient way to fly a large number of passenger drones, for example, together with delivery drones, over a large city or megalopolis?
To answer this question, Corvin Huber (57), our current CEO and experienced aerospace engineer, brought together twelve experts last year: his co-founders, serial entrepreneurs Tim Krieglstein (45) and Daniel Werner (39), as well as well-known advisors such as Christian Lindener (Global Head of Airbus Biz Labs), Otto Bommer (Ex-Program Manager Airbus A400 M), Satjiv S. Chahil (Ex-SVP Worldwide Marketing Apple), Roby Stancel (Co-Inventor Design-Thinking) and other greats.
Together we are developing D3 Technologies. All contributors participated in the seed funding.
Munich Startup: What problem does your startup solve?
D3: Our deep-tech system digitally maps the flight paths for all airspace participants. For this purpose, we are developing a digital twin that maps the airspace in real time. This allows, for example, passenger drones to initially fly with pilots and later on, to fly automatically.
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
D3: No, that's completely new. Currently, the industry is primarily working on control systems for unmanned drones. Our aviation startup is developing a system from day one with a focus on manned drones, such as air taxis. Our system will directly meet the high certification requirements for manned flight operations.
Munich Startup: What have been your three biggest challenges so far?
D3Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all major industry events have been canceled. Everyone is having to adjust to purely virtual networking with new partners.
We want to hold the threads of the urban air mobility ecosystem together. As a hub of networking in the urban transport system, we participate in many national and international working groups that address regulation and other requirements in urban airspace. This is complex for a startup with limited resources, but absolutely necessary.
Our team of specialists requires different working methods depending on the topic; bringing them together effectively is challenging.
“Without us, the billion-dollar market cannot take off”
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
D3: In five years, our complete system is scheduled to go into operation for the first time in a megacity. We aim to see the first parts of our system in operation in 18 months. Our D3 BlueBox will then provide drone manufacturers with valuable on-board data services. We are looking for partners for cooperation in this area.
Munich Startup: How do you rate Munich as a startup location?
D3: Absolutely a plus. There is a clear commitment to urban aviation in Bavaria, both in politics and research. Through initiatives such as Airbus Urban Air Mobility, INCity-Takeoff from Ingolstadt, and research at the Technical University of Munich, we quickly established contacts with the entire ecosystem.
Munich Startup: Hidden champion or shooting star?
D3Hidden champion. The public and investors are primarily interested in the aircraft. But without us, the billion-dollar market can't take off, even if we remain invisible and inaudible at best.
