Lately we are witnessing delirious technological bets between billionaires. And when it’s not the Hyperloop that’s in the news, it’s a new version of Concorde or simply cars packed with technology. But it seems that it is in the air that the future of mass transport will now be decided.
Uber works on an autonomous air taxi
The Uber company, a billionaire in losses, is working on electric flying vehicles that could transport passengers autonomously between landing areas, avoiding traffic jams.
Uber said the devices could be tested in Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth and Dubai within two years. Uber’s not alone in the slot!
A video to dream: https://youtu.be/u9oIDz6UrSc [1]
[2]Billionaire Elon Musk challenged Uber
Elon Musk makes America dream between his Hyperloop and the recently launched rocket with a tesla car on board. He twitched to Dara Khosrowshahi (former Expedia boss) and Uber’s boss that he would launch the flying taxis before him.
AirspaceX unveiled an autonomous aircraft model
AirSpaceX, Elon Musk’s company, unveiled a model of its vertical take-off and landing aircraft. His electric plane is called Mobi-One. It is designed to carry both passengers and freight at speeds up to 400 km/h.
A video: https://youtu.be/fHrW04HYurk [3]
Airbus did its first tests of its air taxi
[4]The passenger drone, known as Vahana, flew entirely in autopilot on January 31, 2018 to Pendleton in the United States reaching a height of five meters for a duration of 53 seconds. Airbus plans to deploy a fleet of flying taxis.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders said the company would invest in driverless technologies and use artificial intelligence to develop a fleet of flying cars.
A video of the device: https://youtu.be/vcwauzWdozE [5]
Toyota and Jet Blue have their project Joby
Joby works on his five-seater all-electric plane. It would have gone from prototype to air taxi. JetBlue and Toyota have just announced $100 million in funding for this project. The device would have a range of more than 200km. It would be much quieter than its competitors.
A video: https://youtu.be/C7cCCFQI9_I [6]
A German company also on the ranks
The Lilium Jet has successfully completed its first series of test flights over Bavaria. The two-seat Eagle prototype performed a series of complex manoeuvres.
You can see the video: https://youtu.be/ohig71bwRUE [7]
Today, you have the impression to travel in the future as if you were in a science fiction film. But, we should expect to see these machines to begin their ballads within two years hardly. They will probably start by transporting packages but this type of air taxi will arrive very quickly.
A solution perhaps planned by the Mayor of Paris? Who knows?
Serge Fabre