eVTOL development under the low-altitude economy paradigm: technologies, applications, and challenges

As an emerging industrial paradigm, the low-altitude economy is rapidly developing, with electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as a key enabling platform. This paper reviews major advances in eVTOL technologies, including configuration design, distributed electric propulsion, and flight-control and autonomous-navigation systems. It also analyzes the progress of representative companies and products, application scenarios, demonstration projects, and supporting infrastructure and operational systems. Current challenges include flight safety and noise control, delayed airworthiness certification and airspace management, and unclear business models. In the future, the integration of artificial intelligence, cooperative low-altitude traffic management, and standardized regulatory frameworks is expected to enable autonomous and large-scale eVTOL operations, driving the low-altitude economy toward maturity.