Bell Teams Up with Microsoft to Bring Connected Mobility

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At CES 2020, Bell revealed AerOS, a digital mobility platform that will give operators a 360° view into their aircraft fleet. By leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence and IoT, AerOS provides powerful capabilities like fleet master scheduling and real-time aircraft monitoring, enhancing Bell’s Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) experience.

Teaming up with Microsoft

As a technology company with 85 years of innovation in aircraft design, manufacturing and certification, Bell tackles complex problems using novel approaches. In building AerOS, Bell chose Microsoft’s Azure cloud as the foundation and teamed up with Microsoft’s engineers to gain architectural insight, developer support and best practices.

Impacting the Urban Air Mobility Network

Connected fleet management is a critical enabler in the urban air mobility (UAM) landscape. AerOS is designed to integrate seamlessly into fleet operations; it is a flexible platform that can be tailored to customer requirements. With an extensible API, developers can take advantage of AerOS services like vehicle management, fleet scheduling and real-time telemetry in their applications. “AerOS helps maximize aircraft utility, which is a critical driver for the success of UAM,” said Grant Bristow, Technical Lead, Bell. As a technology company redefining flight, Bell wants to consider the entire mobility ecosystem, and AerOS gives Bell a strong platform to build digital capabilities that create a powerful MaaS offering.

Integrating into Smart Cities

As cities around the world struggle with reducing urban congestion, Bell is looking toward the skies. In the future, aircraft like Nexus and APT will be a part of everyday life in cities. With AerOS, operators and municipal leaders will have complete control of their fleets as they transport people, goods and information. “AerOS enables our aircraft to interact with the ecosystem and connects us to the vertical dimension,” said Matt Holvey, Manager Intelligent Systems, Bell. As cities grow smarter, AerOS will be ready to unlock Bell’s mobility experience. “With this platform, Bell is committed to going beyond the aircraft and offering a superior, holistic experience to advance the mobility ecosystem,” said Naveed Siddiqui, Technology Partner, Bell.

About Bell

Thinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us.

We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility.

Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours.

Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.

About Textron

Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders; our ability to keep pace with our competitors in the introduction of new products and upgrades with features and technologies desired by our customers; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of our products; volatility in the global economy or changes in worldwide political conditions that adversely impact demand for our products; volatility in interest rates or foreign exchange rates; and risks related to our international business, including establishing and maintaining facilities in locations around the world and relying on joint venture partners, subcontractors, suppliers, representatives, consultants and other business partners in connection with international business, including in emerging market countries.

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