Tokyo Design Awards Gold Winner

2026 | Professional

SNOWFLAKE

Entrant Company

May Designworks

Category

Transportation Design - Aircraft / Aerospace 

Client's Name

Oliver May

Country / Region

Germany

Snowflake is a groundbraking designconcept for an environmental friendly autonomous advanced passenger transportation system. The technology is based on a drone flyer using a double propeller vertical take-off and landing principle which is powered by hydrogen fuel cell units. The vehicle expands the use of a mere aerotaxi and leads into spheres of professional aviation systems that operates beyond urban mobility. Due to its symmetrical modular layout of a hexagonal snowflake like design it can be used for carrying passengers as well as cargo transport providing estimated space for up to 236 passengers. Lightweight recyclable materials like carbon and alumuminum in combination with 3D printed and upcycled materials are recommended for construction. The flying unit could easily interact with airport buildings that use a similar hexagonal modular layout as terminal buildings and therefore optimizes workflow of departure. By using smart vertical take-off and landing abilities there are no needs for runways anymore. Landing platforms which fit to the overalldimensions of the vehicle are sufficient for operations. The improvement of facility structures also reduces environmental impact caused by large sealed concrete surfaces. In challenging landscapes and terrains like mountains,seaside,deserts and disaster areas most transportation solutions may be costly to plan and/or impractical to use. The snowflake concept can offer new chances here.
It can pick-up, connect and supply people in areas of the planet which aren't easy to reach by common transportation technologies and improves
traveling and support for thousands of people in worldwide aviation traffic.

Credits

May Designworks
Oliver May
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