A childhood fantasy is becoming real as Volonaut announced the launch of its Airbike, a personal flying machine that looks like it flew straight out of the Star Wars universe. The excitement grew further on May 4 or the Star Wars day, when Volonaut dropped a cinematic promotional video showcasing the Airbike gliding through the forest, simulating the iconic speeder chase on Endor, a fictional forest moon in the Star Wars movie.
But more than a sci-fi dream, the airbike represents the latest leap in a rapidly evolving class of VTOLs (Vertical Take-Off and Landing Vehicles). Designed for individual use, it is lightweight, propeller-driven, and maneuverable, blurring the line between drone, motorcycle, and aircraft as it carves out space in the future of urban aerial mobility.
The path to Volonaut’s Airbike is paved with decades of bold experimentation in personal flight. From early jetpacks and rocket belts to sci-fi-inspired hoverbikes, the dream of personal aerial mobility has long captivated inventors. While some designs, like the LEGO-inspired BMW Hover Ride, were purely conceptual, others, such as JetPack Aviation’s Speeder and Hoversurf’s Hoverbike S3, have taken to the skies, albeit in limited or specialized roles. Even rescue-ready jetpacks are now being tested by paramedics in remote regions, hinting at how normalized this tech is becoming.
While Volonaut’s Airbike has definitely captured interest in personal VTOL innovations, it is interesting to note that, as of this writing, the company has not filed patents. This “stealth” approach to innovation invites a closer look at how similar technologies have been protected, and what the VTOL patent landscape reveals about innovation strategies in this space.
Volonaut’s ‘stealth’ approach to IP
Founded by Polish Engineer Tomasz Patan – a known figure in the electric aviation space and co-founder of Jetson One – Volonaut is taking a stealthy approach to its IP. As of early 2025, no public patent filings are available under the Volonaut name, suggesting the company may be relying on trade secrets or filing unpublished applications filed under alternate entities. This low-visibility IP strategy may be designed to maintain a technological edge in a rapidly evolving field. Similar approaches have been used by companies like Joby Aviation, which kept key patents under wraps during early development, or Apple, which is known for using shell companies to file trademarks discreetly. For hardware-intensive startups, early disclosure can sometimes give away too much too soon, particularly in sectors where reverse engineering or rapid replication is a real risk.
In contrast, trademark records suggest a forward-looking commercial approach. The term “Volonaut” has been filed as a trademark in the US, with additional filings in other jurisdictions, signaling a strong emphasis on branding and potential market entry.
Volonaut’s Airbike: A synthesis of the VTOL evolution
Building on past experimental platforms, the Airbike is designed to deliver a safer, simpler, and more accessible flying experience for individuals. It features a lightweight carbon fiber frame and powered by jet propulsion, marking a sharp departure from the drone-like, multicopter designs that dominate the personal aircraft landscape.
Weighing in at under 100 pounds, the Airbike is significantly lighter than many comparable aircraft. This is made possible through the use of 3D-printed components and a minimalist design approach. Although detailed performance specifications remain limited, Volonaut has publicly suggested a top speed of around 124 mph. Described as a “superbike for the skies”, it lacks both propellers and a cockpit with the rider standing, gripping handlebars, and leaning forward to take off—much like riding a motorcycle. The airbike also features a “proprietary stabilization system enhanced by a flight computer”, designed to simplify control and hovering for the pilot, maintaining balance without continuous manual input.
While Volonaut has not yet disclosed any formal patent filings for the Airbike, a review of patent databases reveals several technologies that conceptually align with the vehicle’s anticipated functionality. These patents do not represent direct matches but rather reflect a broader innovation landscape in which the Airbike could logically fit, particularly in areas like lightweight stabilization, propulsion systems, and rider-scale configurations.
To better understand the types of stabilization technologies that might be relevant, we examine two existing patents that detail systems tailored for VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft.
Joystick-based design boosts VTOL performance
Traditional VTOL vehicles face safety and performance issues during takeoff and landing due to sudden loss of lift. Their control systems like cyclic and collective pitch are also complex, heavy, and costly, reducing overall efficiency and ease of use.
U.S. Patent 10,351,234, titled “Vertical Takeoff and Landing Vehicle,” describes a stabilization system for VTOL vehicles that uses jet engines mounted on swivels, allowing them to tilt in different directions. The engines are grouped—like front and back, or left and right—and controlled with joysticks. Each joystick handles one group of engines, making the system feel intuitive to operate. Extra control comes from trigger-based throttles and thumb controls that adjust engine power. A feedback system constantly fine-tunes both the strength and direction of the thrust to keep the vehicle stable and responsive.
In the patent, grouped propulsion units (11) are mounted to rotate in response to joystick movement, enabling vectored thrust for orientation control. Finger-operated triggers (28) on each joystick (23) modulate engine speed, allowing precise vertical and lateral maneuvering. This setup supports differential thrust control—where pitch, roll, and yaw are achieved by varying thrust among propulsion units (e.g., increasing output on one side to induce roll). The system also provides proportional responsiveness, scaling thrust vectoring to joystick input for smooth, intuitive handling.
The ‘234 patent was filed on May 26, 2016 and was granted on July 16, 2019 to Diverging Technologies LLC. Jeremy Dennis was listed as the inventor and the application is represented by Blake Hurt of Tuggle Duggins P.A.
Smart rotors help VTOL hover and fly smoothly
Another example is presented in GB2614228A, which describes a VTOL aerial vehicle with a centralized flight computer responsible for stabilizing and controlling multiple propulsion units. This design uses fixed-pitch rotors mounted on single-axis gimbals, providing directional control through gimbal actuation. The propulsion units are symmetrically arranged and angled to enhance both stability and maneuverability. The flight computer processes real-time sensor inputs and pilot commands to adjust gimbal angles, enabling stable hover and directional flight with minimal manual input.
The system incorporates a dual-loop control architecture: a fast-response loop for attitude stabilization and a slower loop for thrust regulation. Onboard sensors—including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers—continuously relay data to the flight computer, which calculates thrust vectoring adjustments to maintain orientation and altitude. This architecture supports both autonomous and pilot-assisted flight, facilitating vertical takeoff, hovering, and directional control through coordinated thrust modulation.
The UK patent, titled “A VTOL aerial vehicle,” was filed on October 21, 2021 and was granted on July 5, 2023 to Maverick Aviation Ltd. The listed inventors are Matthew Denton and Antony Quinn. The application is represented by Barker Brettell LLP.
The control strategies described in both patents appear closely aligned with the Airbike’s observed behavior. Even during disturbances or flight transitions, the Airbike maintains posture dynamically, likely through a similar reliance on differential thrust and vector control. Its ability to hover, yaw, and maneuver without aerodynamic control surfaces or traditional rotors strongly suggests the use of a flight computer-driven stabilization framework.
As Volonaut continues to refine the Airbike, future disclosures or intellectual property filings may shed more light on the exact mechanics of its stabilization system—and how closely it mirrors the control architectures detailed in existing patents.
VTOL Technologies: Patenting Activity
Since 2015, patents mentioning “VTOL” or “eVTOL” have spiked, driven by companies like Joby Aviation and Lilium. Activity peaked around 2020–2022, and though filings dipped after that, it’s likely due to delays or a shift toward patents focused on systems like propulsion or controls, which don’t always mention VTOL (see note 1). With new players like Pivotal, AltoVolo, and Zapata – and a growing number of startups entering the personal VTOL market – the push for personal flying machines is gaining speed—and the race is far from over.
¹ Data extracted from patent publications that specifically mention “VTOL” or “eVTOL” in their claims. This may not capture the full spectrum of VTOL-related inventions, especially those that use alternative terminology or focus on subsystem components.
VTOL Technologies: Top Jurisdictions
The global distribution of VTOL patent filings highlights key regions driving innovation, with China leading at 1,131 filings, followed by the U.S. (715) and Europe (149 via the EPO). Growing activity across the Asia-Pacific region such as India, Japan, Australia and South Korea, and international filings through WIPO (77) reflect the sector’s expanding global footprint. For Volonaut, securing IP in major markets through the EPO and the PCT could support future growth. As the landscape evolves, keeping pace with these trends will be key to navigating opportunities and risks.
VTOL Technologies: Top Assignees
Textron Innovations has maintained a steady presence in VTOL-related patent activity, with filings covering diverse takeoff and landing configurations Other notable contributors include Boeing and its subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences, AeroVironment, Volocopter, and Honeywell International. These companies have continued to refine key systems such as flight control, propulsion, and stability, contributing to the broader development of personal and urban aerial mobility.
VTOL Technologies: Top Technology Areas
Many VTOL-related patents are filed under classes B64C, B64D, and G05D, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of this field. B64C, which pertains to aeroplanes and helicopters, accounts for the majority of filings. This includes innovations related to airframe design, wing configurations, rotor assemblies, and other structural components essential for stable vertical and horizontal flight. This is followed by B64D, which includes aircraft equipment and fittings, such as propulsion systems, landing gear, and onboard energy distribution. Additionally, G05D focuses on control systems for managing flight position, speed, and stability.
These CPC classes show how VTOL development relies on a combination of advances in airframe design, propulsion systems, and flight controls, all working together to improve safety, efficiency, and ease of operation.
VTOL Technologies: Top Law Firms
In terms of legal representation, the VTOL patent landscape is largely shaped by U.S.-based firms, with Caldwell Intellectual Property Law and Lawrence Youst PLLC leading the field, together accounting for over 140 filings. Other significant U.S. firms like Van Pelt, Yi & James LLP, Finnegan, and Dority & Manning reinforce the dominance of specialized firms in this space. Outside the U.S., Barker Brettell LLP and Concept IP LLP represent notable UK involvement, while LBP Lemcke, Brommer & Partner contributes from Germany. Spruson & Ferguson’s presence reflects growing patent activity in the Asia-Pacific region. This suggests a concentration of legal expertise in the U.S., with strategic involvement from key international firms.
The future of Volonaut and personal VTOL aviation
This broader wave of innovation is setting the stage for novel approaches to personal flight—approaches that favor not just technical complexity, but also radical simplicity. Volonaut’s Airbike continues on this momentum with a minimalist, precision-focused design. Instead of electric rotors, it relies on compact jet turbines, offering a lightweight, propeller-free frame that reimagines personal VTOL through simplicity and control.
Volonaut’s Airbike is the next expression in the evolution of personal VTOL aviation, where science fiction is now engineering reality. With growing interest in personal flight and continued progress in lightweight propulsion and control systems, the Airbike and other single occupant flying vehicles could redefine urban transport, emergency mobility, and recreational flight.
By focusing on simplicity, jet propulsion, and sleek control, Volonaut stands apart from the drone-inspired competition. Whether it dominates the airways or inspires the next wave of VTOL pioneers, one thing is clear: ‘Upon us, the age of the speeder bike is,’ as Yoda might say.”.
Main graphic was taken from the Volonaut Youtube Channel (Volonaut Airbike - Speeder Bike Forest Chase).
