Our mission
Shaping tomorrow’s aviation by engineering prototypes to solve real-world problems. We do not only design and simulate visionary concepts, we also build and test them.
The first eVTOL defibrillator transport in Germany!
In rural areas the ambulance often takes a long time to arrive. Through the usage of drones we can shorten the time until a defibrillator can be applied – therefore increasing the survival chance of a patient by up to three times.
About us
Founded in 2019, HORYZN is a student initiative consisting of 58 Bachelor, Master and PhD students from the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Our goal is to apply the theoretical knowledge gained in our studies by developing electrical Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). As an international and interdisciplinary team, we come up with innovative solutions for real-world problems.
Thanks to our close cooperation with six chairs from the newly founded Department of Aerospace and Geodesy and as part of the AkaModell München e.V. we are an interface between research, industry, and the students.
As part of our first project, we developed the largest eVTOL UAV in the history of the Technical University of Munich. In our next project we will test a medical use case – the transport of defibrillators – and thus encourage the social debate regarding the use of civil UAVs.
Credit: TUM/Fabian Vogl
July 2021
The opening of the new Department of Aerospace and Geodesy at TUM gave us the opportunity to present Mission Pulse to Dr. Markus Söder, the Minister-President of Bavaria.
At the same time, the aircraft design is finished. The 3D modeling of Frankenstein I will start soon.
April 2021
Project Launch of "Mission Pulse"
Increasing the survival chance in the case of a cardiac arrest by using drones to deliver defibrillators.
Testing of Frankenstein I, the first prototype, is expected to begin this December
January 2021
After a long recruitment process we are delighted to welcome our new team members to HORYZN! Our team is now made up of 58 members from 21 different countries.
October 2020
On the 8th of October 2020 we presented the SILENCIO Gamma to our supporters at the Courtyard by Marriott Oberpfaffenhofen München Süd. It was a huge success!
July 2020
At our concept presentation we talked about:
- The HORYZN configuration
- Design methods used in the aircraft design process
- Technical solutions
- Insights in prototype building and testing
- Potential use cases
October 2019
HORYZN is founded as the first student initiative established at the new Department of Aerospace and Geodesy. Its goal is to give students the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge gained in their studies.
What others say
A selection of comments from renowned experts
Students connecting industry and research, shaping the future of German aviation and developing new technologies with medical benefits – this is HORYZN. The international, passionate team from the Technical University of Munich is working towards a great goal in their spare time: to significantly improve the medical infrastructure in the event of a cardiac arrest by using civilian drones. Doing so, HORYZN not only contributes to the innovative spirit of the aviation industry, but also provides social benefits for the general public. The initiative is a prime example of what students can achieve and deserves a lot of support!
State Minister Dorothee Bär MdB
Federal Government Commissioner for Digitalisation
Approximately 75,000 people suffer cardiovascular arrest in Germany every year. The student initiative HORYZN is doing an extraordinary job tripling the survival probability by using drones to transport the defibrillators. Instead of the average 9 minutes it takes an ambulance, the drone can be at the emergency scene in 4-5 minutes. With its convincing approach, HORYZN is addressing a problem which receives far too little attention in Germany. This motivated, young and interdisciplinary team deserves every recognition and is eminently worth supporting.
Dr. Florian Brettner, MHBA
Senior physician, Barmherzige Brüder Krankenhaus München
Student initiatives like HORYZN prove what a group of motivated students can achieve in an international and interdisciplinary team. In HORYZN, students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in lectures to the development of eVTOL UAVs, thereby forming an interface between research and industry. With "Mission Pulse", students can positively contribute to the societal debate around the use of civilian drones, and thus the mobility of the future. I am proud of our students' achievement and wish them continued success!
Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Hofmann
President of the TU Munich
eVTOL drones will provide unique possibilities to a variety of applications. The HORYZN team did a great job to master the underlying technologies and to demonstrate their capability to bring those applications to life.
Prof. Dr. Mirko Hornung
Institute of Aircraft Design, TU Munich
HORYZN is setting high goals with high aspiration that the international team at TUM accepts the challenge and decomposes the impossible into manageable steps. In a short time they put into reality only by motivation, skill, dedication and industriousness what others fail to do on millions of euros.
Groups like HORYZN are my fountain of hope that Bavaria will take a strong role in the third revolution of aerospace – they are our future, revitalizing the aerospace landscape and building sustainable high class jobs for themselves and others. Godspeed the team of HORYZN!
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Florian Holzapfel
Institute of Flight System Dynamics, TU Munich
In developing a new and functional eVTOL prototype from scratch in a short time, the HORYZN team has placed itself at the forefront of sustainable aviation developments, demonstrating not only technical competence, but also an extraordinary level of motivation, creativity and commitment. I look forward to seeing them take their ambitions even further - kudos to all team members for an electrifying effort, in every sense of the word.
Prof. Dr. Sophie Armanini
Assistant Professorship of eAviation, TU Munich
As the first student initiative established at the new Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, HORYZN and its 58 members from over 20 countries actively combine industry, research and academics every day. Through the successful conception and implementation of challenging projects, the initiative also embodies the entrepreneurial mindset of the TU Munich.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus Drechsler
Chair of Carbon Composites, TU Munich
Passion, smart minds, cool ideas - this is HORYZN. It is very impressive to see what this group of well trained and highly motivated students achieved in such a short time. I am more than excited to see what comes next!
Prof. Dr. Markus Ryll
Professorship for Autonomous Aerial Systems, TU Munich
As aerospace professors, we are dedicated to provide all necessary knowledge and skills to our students. We know that as future engineers, they will need the whole span – from basic engineering sciences to system safety and certification.
But what makes them even better engineers is practice and application – something they get when joining the HORYZN team. And beyond theory and practice, there is passion! It’s not part of our lectures - but it will come when working at HORYZN.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Manfred Hajek
Chair of Helicopter Technology, TU Munich
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Antonia Bosch
Business Development
Funding
Organization
Konstantinos Zafiridis
Business Lead