Rolls Royce car maker is working on a flying taxi system that could be deployed at the earliest in the next 10 years, the company said.
The British company claims it has already made plans for a vehicle that can take off vertically and can accommodate 4-5 people, called EVTOL, according to the BBC .
First look at Uber’s flying taxi models – YouTube
May 8, 2018 … Uber is releasing new information about Uber Air, an ambitious plan to launch a fleet of autonomous flying taxis in two years. Bianna Golodryga …The vehicle could reach speeds of 402 km / h, being able to travel 800 kilometers without refueling. Thus, Rolls Royce joins several companies already working on their own versions of the Flying Taxi.
Rob Watson, chief of Rolls Royce’s Electric Department, said: “We are in a position to play a leading role in the emerging world of air transport, and we will also be looking to work with more partners.”
Flying cars have long been a science fiction, but aviation and technology companies are working hard to turn them into reality. Airbus, Uber and several start-ups, one of which was funded by the Google co-founder Larry Page – Kitty Hawk – all of them have announced such projects.
British manufacturer Rolls Royce initially confessed that the EVTOL concept used gas turbine technology to power 6 electric propellers, specially designed to be noisy.
The wings of the vehicle could rotate 90 degrees, allowing it to take off or land vertically. The car can also use heliports or airports.
This is Dubai’s new flying taxi
Chinese drone maker EHang aims to replace taxis in Dubai this summer with autonomous passenger flying drones.“We believe that, considering the effort and work done today to develop electric propulsion capabilities, this model could be ready by mid-2020 at the earliest, in the context of creating a commercial model that accepts a such feed, “says Rolls Royce.
The company has promised to degrade more details soon.
