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Designers must therefore be able to separate high- and low-voltage elements with high reliability to ensure functional safety. As with overall functional safety, components must be specified appropriately for UAM use and have the corresponding documentation. One advantage of a UAM vehicle is that components generally will not be exposed to the environmental extremes of an airliner, as they will stay relatively close to the ground. Additionally, due to the inherently smooth operation of electric motors, plus efforts to minimize noise output, vibration will not be as much of an issue as it is with combustion-powered vehicles. One of the key elements of being able to fit the necessary avionics in a space small enough for UAM use is the continued miniaturization of aircraft components. Large rack-mount equipment is no longer acceptable, and every cubic millimeter and gram saved means enhanced flight time. Fortunately, on-chip integration is saving significant space. Devices such as isolated voltage sensors incorporate signal conditioning, ADC, isolation, and power in a single device. This can simplify designs, saving weight directly and making UAM aircraft systems less complicated, easier to integrate, and potentially lighter. C h a p t e r 4 | E l e c t r i c a l I s o l a t i o n : C r i t i c a l t o H u m a n a n d E q u i p m e n t S a f e t y Proper electrical isolation ensures there will be no errant electrical charges between systems, and potentially even fault propagation between redundant systems. The integration of isolation into complex functions such as voltage sensing, along with isolated power within the same device, helps designers meet this safety critical requirement." Michael Seidl Systems Engineer - Aerospace, Texas Instruments 19 Addressing New Challenges in Urban Air Mobility