A company out of Japan has completed the
first tests of its ‘flying car’ with a person onboard. The vehicle, which could
be more accurately described as an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and
landing) vehicle rather than a flying car, has been built by SkyDrive. During a
recent test, it hovered several feet off the ground for a few minutes before
softly and safely returning to the ground.
SkyDrive’s vehicle is dubbed the ‘Manned
Machine SD-03’ and uses eight propellers and eight electric motors to provide
it with lift. Fukuzawa says SkyDrive’s prototype can only fly for five to 10
minutes but says if this can be extended up to 30 minutes, it will have
potential and could be exported to markets including China.
Of course, there are many challenges in
commercializing eVTOL vehicles like the Manned Machine SD-03, including air
traffic control, battery sizes, and other infrastructure uses.
SkyDrive began its project back in 2012
and has received funding from the likes of Toyota, Panasonic, and video game
developed Bandai Namco. It also recently received 3.7 billion yen (US$ 37 million)
in its latest round of funding that included the Development Bank of Japan.
