In the same way as you share your ride in Ola or Uber now, you will be sharing space with your fellow commuters up in the air very soon. The automobile industry will venture into the production of flying taxis. In fact, this is a reality that is closer than you think.
The manufacturers were so far tight-lipped about the production of the flying-taxis that was going on all while. There is still time for these flying taxis to acquire visible shape. Meanwhile, we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Flying Taxis, without denying, will be a major breakthrough in the technological forefront because one can amble across the sky while onboard this. So far, humankind has managed to create re-usable rockets, power cars with a pack of batteries with optimum efficiency or planted crops in the Moon. Flying Taxis or quad coppers will be such a revolutionary idea in itself!
Here goes name of some firms, that are going to turn this vision into reality:
Uber Elevate:
Uber is a well though of sharing platform in the world that will indulge in creating aerial node-to-node network for communities. Uber Elevate will use vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles for ferrying passengers from a destination to another. The video below will give you a clear idea on how it operates:
The company has joined hands with Bell Helicopter to make this project a success. Bell Helicopters is an American aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Texas. In CES (Consumer Electronic Show) 2019 recently, Bell Helicopters unveiled its Nexus, a 5-seater VTOL that is materialise UBER’s Elevate dream. It has 6 massive 90 degree tilting rotors that hints at what future quad-copters will look like. Uber aims to launch this service by 2023, but only in the ares of Dallas and Los Angeles. Okay, brace for it, UBER is evaluating a potential launch market in India too. Awesome, isn’t that?
Audi Pop.Up Next:
Audi’s Pop.Up next is a nexus between a self-driving electronic car and a passenger drone. But then, one can detach both the components. It means, the passengers can travel in the roads with an autonomous car to the take-off site. When you are on the take-off site, a drone self-attachs it on the top of the car and ferries passengers to their destinations through air.
The Italdesign and Airbus have collaborated to turn this vision into a reality. In the next decade, the Pop.Up Next series is likely to be launched. If look closely, you will note that the Uber’s concept is more of a node-to-node transport, while Audi’s Pop.up Next is a complete door-to-door transport concept, offering to and fro transport from the landing sites.
Audi is carrying out tests in the Mexican City or sao Paolo for its impending launch.
Vertical aerospace:
The British aerospace manufacturer which was found in 2016 is one of the pioneers in the flying taxi project. Vertical aerospace, with Uber is creating a flying taxi network where UBER will be using VTOLS for the purpose. Vertical Aerospace is all set to come up with an eVTOL. Commuters can book a ride in Audi Pop.up Next will have to book it through an app. The commute, however will be limited between vertiports and not door-to-door.
The companies are really keeping their fingers crossed that the commuters embrace the idea hovering over the city aboard the small pods.
