From Anthropocene to Aerocene, through Biocene: Critical Reflections on the Future of Air Mobility

Abstract

The paper illustrates a case study developed within the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai), focusing on the future of Urban Air Mobility (UAM). The interest in the topic of aerial transportation followed a recent partnership between Hyundai and Uber Inc., aiming to commercialise an electric flying taxi service in 2028 in the city of San Francisco. In response to the increasing need for sustainable options, this research project explores the risks, alternative trajectories, and socioeconomic and environmental implications for the future of UAM. The work is generated at the conjunction of the Anthropocene, Aerocene and Biocene, which, besides representing both the conceptual and operational context, provide the inspiration for a multilayered conceptual framework. The Anthropocene, characterising the human species, flows into critical practices; the Aerocene, as a future scenario, engages with speculations; and the Biocene, as a new environmental order, fosters a post-human-centred approach.