But then that never happened. 2015, the setting of Back to the Future II and its famous flying cars, has come and gone with barely even a functioning hoverboard. But don’t despair! Uber can finally get us those flying cars we think are so special. Uber has revealed that it is looking into tech that would allow it to create automated drone taxis. Like self-driving cars, the self-driving drones could ferry customers who call them in the Uber app. Unlike cars, the drones can travel as the crow flies: In a straight, mid-air route.
How It Works
The news comes from Jeff Holden, Uber’s head of product, who recently told Recode that the ride-share company is already researching “vertical take off and landing” (VTOL) technology. This craft would feature fixed wings in addition to the ability to take off and land vertically rather than on lengthy runway. From Recode:
Why It’s Cool
Uber isn’t the only competitor in the “flying cars” category, as the Telegraph explains: Holden said in the interview that such technology could be in use within a decade, which is an aggressive prediction, given the issues around the complexity of movement in the air above densely populated areas. (Also, you know, the possibility of these VTOL vehicles crashing into each other.)” There’s a reason flying cars haven’t been invented yet: Traffic regulations are already tough, and we have plenty of crashes. Now imagine if the traffic could flow up and down as well as right and left. What would a three dimensional traffic stop even look like? Could people learn how it worked? Clearly, the self-driving aspect of a flying drone taxi is pretty essential. Google founder Larry Page is one of the major believers in flying cars, putting $100m of his own money into startups developing the technology.” Image: Flickr / Vince Smith
