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Flying cars still feel like the stuff of science fiction despite a number of breakthroughs in recent years, but Toyota is hoping to bring the technology to the masses.
The Kentucky-based car manufacturer has been awarded a patent for a vehicle with wings hidden in the roof that can be deployed at the touch of a button.
Illustrations reveal the rotating wings being stacked in a row of four and each can be deployed individually so the car resembles the kind of multiplanes seen in the early days of aviation.
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Toyota has been awarded a patent for a vehicle with wings hidden in the roof that can be deployed at the touch of a button. Illustrations (pictured) reveal the rotating wings being stacked in a row of four and each can be deployed individually so the car resembles the kind of multiplanes seen i n the early days of aviation
The patent was filed in March 2014 and awarded earlier this week.
Toyota explained: 'Flying has always been a dream central to the history of humanity.
'Aerocars or roadable aircraft are defined as vehicles that may be driven on roads as well as take off, fly, and land as aircraft.
TOYOTA'S HYDROGEN-POWERED MIRAI COMING TO EUROPEToyota's hydrogen-powered Mirai car, which launched in Japan last year, is coming to Europe this autumn.
Mirai, which means 'future' in Japanese, is the world's first mass-produced car to be powered by hydrogen.
Most electric cars typically achieve a range of 75 miles (120km) but Toyota's Mirai can reach 300 miles (482km) and its 5kg hydrogen tanks can be refuelled in five minutes.
The car is expected to cost around £55,000 after it is launched in Germany next month.
'Vehicles that demonstrate such capability provide operators with freedom, comfort, and the ability to arrive quickly to a destination as mobility becomes three-dimensional yet remains private and personal.'
It continued that the biggest problem is developing a craft that will fit on a road and in parking spaces, but has the flight stability and control of a plane.
It is particularly critical of flying car designs that place the foldable wings on the side of the vehicles, noting that 'although effective, the more numerous the fold locations, the greater the weight and complexity that necessarily influences operability in each mode.'
These designs also limit the side views of people inside the car.
To solve this problem, Toyota proposes stacking wings in the roof of the car.
When deployed, one wing rises from the roof and rotates into position, a second can then be deployed, followed by a third and fourth.
Or as Toyota described: 'The present disclosure pertains to a vehicle that can be flown as a fixed wing aircraft and driven as a land vehicle.
Toyota proposes stacking wings in the roof of the car. When deployed, one wing rises from the roof and rotates into position (wings pictured left), a second can then be deployed, followed by a third and fourth (pictured right)
Illustrations showing the fully-deployed wings in the patent make the car resemble the multiplanes of the late 19th and early 20th century. An early French multiplane from the 1890s is pictured. Other details in the patent are vague and Toyota doesn't explain how the car would get the propulsion needed to take off
'More specifically, the present di sclosure is directed to stackable wing architectures.'
Other details are vague and Toyota doesn't explain how the car would get the propulsion needed to take off.
However, illustrations showing the fully-deployed wings make the car resemble the multiplanes of the late 19th and early 20th century.
In particular, the Maxim designed by Hiram Maxim in the 1890s and the range of Phillips Multiplanes from the early 1990s.
The Phillips Multiplane I had 20 stacked wings and a model built in 1907 flew 500ft (152 metres), but the design wasn't as successful as conventional plane types.
The idea for an airborne car has been a science fiction dream since the cartoon The Jetsons (shown) and hit film Back to the Future - and has now moved a step closer to reality
In July, Terrafugia - one of the firm's leading the flying car movement - unveiled new designs for its revolutionary vehicle known as the TF-X (pictured) with wings that are stowed on the side. Toyota criticises such designs in its patent because they add too much weight and complexity
In July, Terrafugia - one of the firm's leading the flying car movement - unveiled new designs for its revolutionary vehicle known as the TF-X.
Terrafugia's concept vehicle - which doubles as both a plane and a land car - has fold-out wings with twin electric motors attached to each end.
These motors allow the TF-X to move from a vertical to a horizontal position, and will be powered by a 300hp engine.
According to the company, thrust will be provided by a ducted fan and the vehicle will have a cruising speed of 200 mph (322 km/h), along with a 500 mile (805 km) flight range.
The planned four-person TF-X will be semi-autonmous and use computer-controls so that passengers can simply type in a destination before taking off.
Terrafugia also provided a new animation showing how the T-FX would operate. To take-off, the video shows how electric-powered propellers tilt 90 degrees.
Terrafugia's concept vehicle (pictured) - which doubles as both a plane and a land car - has fold-out wings with twin electric motors attached to each end. These motors allow the TF-X to move from a vertical to a horizontal position, and will be powered by a 300hp engine
The planned four-person TF-X will be semi-autonomous and use computer-controls so that passengers can simply type in a destination before taking off
Source: Toyota's 'aerocar' will have WINGS hidden in the roof: Patent reveals plans for a flying vehicle resembling a multiplane
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