The Airbus Group plans
on testing a prototype of a self-piloted flying car as a way of avoiding
gridlock.
Airbus has already formed a new division called
'Urban Air Mobility', exploring concepts meant to carry individuals, among
which is a helicopter-style vehicle that can carry multiple riders. Airbus would look for people to book the vehicle using an app, just like with
car-sharing programs.
"One
hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the
technological wherewithal to go above ground," said Airbus CEO Tom Enders,
while adding that he hoped his company could fly a prototype for single-person
transport by the end of this year.
"We are
in an experimentation phase, we take this development very seriously,"
added Enders. "With flying, you don't need to pour billions into concrete
bridges and roads."
He also said that as the world's largest maker of
commercial helicopters, Airbus wanted to invest in making the most of new
technologies such as autonomous driving and artificial intelligence, in order
to usher in the era of flying cars, as reported by Reuters.
"If we
ignore these developments, we will be pushed out of important segments of the
business."
One of the biggest hurdles for Airbus
will be to develop technology that will allow vehicles to avoid collisions when
flying autonomously, which is why solving this issue is currently a top
priority.
