Flying cars? We've seen them in futuristic Sci-Fi movies. But did you know that a few companies have already started developing flying cars? Some even already have their prototypes.
In Dubai, the government transportation bureau announced early this week that they intend to launch flying cars as early as July.
Dubai's major independent government transportation authority, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), presented a video at the World Government Summit (WGS), showing an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) flying the skies of Dubai, saying that tests of the flying cars are ongoing.
Mattar Al-Tayer, director general of RTA, said that Dubai aims to be the leader in driverless technology by 2030.
The RTA is currently testing AAVs in cooperation with China's Ehang Company, Al-Tayer said. “The AAV on display at the World Government Summit is not just a model but it has really flown in Dubai skies. RTA will spare no effort to launch the AAV in July 2017.”
Resembling a giant drone, the flying car in the video was carrying one passenger. This AAV has eight propellers and can carry a weight of 100 kg and a cargo the size of a suitcase.
'The fully ready-to-fly 184 is a manned drone capable of automatically carrying a passenger through the air, simply by entering a destination into its accompanying smartphone app,' the firm says.
Al-Tayer explained that driverless vehicles, minibuses and boats are being trailed in Dubai and that the second phase of the Dubai Tram will have fully driverless trams.
“Autonomous mobility… technology has been tested in several countries including Dubai, Singapore, the United States and Britain. The Government of Dubai is leading the transition to driverless mobility in Dubai and is planning to take a leading position worldwide in autonomous mobility by 2030, whereas in other cities and countries, it is the private sector that leads the process,” he said.
In addition to testing these AAVs, he added that the RTA has also been testing driverless minibuses and boats. They are also considering deploying driverless shuttle buses and driverless taxicabs.
Al-Tayer however pointed out four key challeges on the autonomous (or driverless) vehicle technology:
- Infrastructure - including map updates, road markings and traffic lights;
- Laws and Legislation;
- Safety; and
- Public acceptance.
“To cope with these challenges, we have prepared Dubai Smart Autonomous Mobility Strategy which, compared to other global strategies, is characterized by the leading role of the Government of Dubai in the transition to driverless mobility, while in other cities and countries, it is the private sector that leads the process. Moreover, Dubai’s vision incorporates all mass transit modes such as trains, buses, marine transit modes and taxis, as well as private vehicles, while many countries focus on a limited number of transit modes.”
Even with these challenges on driverless technology, Al-Tayer was nothing but excited about the promise of future technology. “The journey on an autonomous vehicle will soon be like boarding a lift. All of us trust the closed box that lifts us to different levels as we know it is secure, ready and tested. This is what the RTA is seeking to achieve through autonomous mobility strategy and associated initiatives,” he said.
Source: Arab News
Images: Daily Mail UK
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