Airbus could have self-flying car prototype by end of year

By

Bid to reduce traffic congestion.

Airbus Group plans to test a prototype for a self-piloted flying car as a way of avoiding gridlock on city roads by the end of the year, the aerospace group's chief executive said today.

Airbus could have self-flying car prototype by end of year
Tom Enders

Airbus last year formed a division called Urban Air Mobility that is exploring concepts such as a vehicle to transport individuals or a helicopter-style vehicle that can carry multiple riders.

The aim would be for people to book the vehicle using an app, similar to car-sharing schemes.

"One hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the technological wherewithal to go above ground," Airbus CEO Tom Enders told the DLD digital tech conference in Munich.

He said he hoped the Airbus could fly a demonstration vehicle for single-person transport by the end of the year.

"We are in an experimentation phase, we take this development very seriously."

He said using the skies could also reduce costs for city infrastructure planners.

"With flying, you don't need to pour billions into concrete bridges and roads," he said.

Enders said Airbus, as the world's largest maker of commercial helicopters, wanted to invest to make the most of new technologies such as autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, to usher in what amounts to an era of flying cars.

"If we ignore these developments, we will be pushed out of important segments of the business," he said.

A spokesman for Airbus declined to say how much the company was investing in urban mobility.

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Tags:

Most Read Articles

WA Police Force to spend $30.8m on IT 'optimisation'

WA Police Force to spend $30.8m on IT 'optimisation'

Victoria's first government tech chief steps down

Victoria's first government tech chief steps down

Australian teen leaks pictures of new iPhone parts

Australian teen leaks pictures of new iPhone parts

Porn industry standardises on HD-DVD

Porn industry standardises on HD-DVD

Log In

  |  Forgot your password?