Airbus, maker of airliners like the mammoth A380, also sees a market for smaller autonomous flying taxis using vertical takeoff and landing capabilities for short trips around big urban centers.
Self-Driving Vehicles: First Uber, Now Airbus
Key Takeaways:
- Airbus is developing an autonomous, single-person, electric VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) flying taxi, code-named Vahana, for short urban trips.
- The Vahana craft, managed by Airbus's new Urban Air Mobility division, features eight electric propellers and a tilt-wing design for compact size and energy efficiency.
- Airbus plans to develop a booking app similar to Uber/Lyft, with a prototype flying this year and potential viability by 2021, contingent on overcoming regulatory hurdles for pilotless aircraft.
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