Kitty Hawk Flyer Google founder Larry Page’s flying car flies, soon to be ready for purchase

Google founder Larry Page financially backs a company called Kitty Hawk, a flying car company and the company has now released the first video of its prototype aircraft. Christened the Kitty Hawk Flyer, the all-electric plane is designed to operate even above the surface of water. What makes the equation sweeter is that if you can buy one, you won't need a pilot's license to fly! The company Kitty Hawk claims that users/ pilots will be able to learn to fly the craft in minutes, although the number of minutes hasn't been disclosed yet.

While the version available right now isn't open to consumer selling, a version open to customers will be available soon. There is a catch though. The customer version can only be used for recreational or water purpose only, which rules out any usage over or within cities.

Watch video here:

The aircraft features two tubular pontoons and two rotors on each of the four sides of the machine. The pilot or the operator sits on top of the craft and going by the images, it's a joystick that operates all drive controls, similar to what one sees in BMW cars. We know that by now you're thinking what happens if you lose balance and topple over? The company says it's got that covered in the form of a net over the propellers so that you don't go grinding into the fans. Assuring? You decide.

Available information states that the machine is capable of reaching speeds of up to about 40 km/h, which is quite a lot considering it's over the surface of water.

The next thing you're thinking about is price and the bad news is that isn't out. However, Kitty Hawk is offering a $100 three year membership idea. While this will not guarantee controls of that joystick you're thinking about, it will give you a priority status on the waiting list for the plane and a host of add-on services along with a $ 2,000 discount on the price of the machine.

Can you buy it?

Well if you are in the USA, you can hopefully sometime in 2018 as production is planned for end of 2017. Outside US, the company has no plans of exporting the aircraft and there is no word from the company yet on how much the aircraft will cost.

So as long as Kitty Hawk sells this machine in the discussed format, it'll remain a recreational machine only. Going above that and to make it an urban transportation solution will take a while and a lot of certifications to pass through.

Source: Kitty Hawk Flyer Google founder Larry Page's flying car flies, soon to be ready for purchase

Larry Page Backed Flying Car Takes Flight, Set To Become Reality By Year End

"Do you dream of flying?

So do we."

So states the website of  Kitty Hawk, a company backed by Google's co-founder Larry Page. The company is readying itself to launch an electric flying vehicle by the end of this year.

Sebastian Thrun, the computer scientist who led the development of Google's self-driving car, and is CEO of Kitty Hawk, tweeted the following as the startup released photos and videos of the prototype:

Changing the future of personal transportation. Join us @kittyhawkcorp to get information about #theFlyer prototype https://t.co/mbX5Z0WpTo

— Sebastian Thrun (@SebastianThrun) April 24, 2017

The flyer, however, which lands on water rather than on road, will have a different look and feel. As per the company, the design is still to be finalised, but its capabilities are now on display. The company wrote in a message to prospective flyers, "As you can see it's a bit rough around the edges, but we were so excited to show you its capabilities that we didn't want to wait until we finished its design."

But for now, for $100, one can get priority placement on a waitlist for the aircraft from Kitty Hawk. The one-time fee pays for a three-year membership that includes a $2,000 discount off the retail price of the "all-electric" flying car and exclusive access to events promoting the car ahead of its release. It also pays for access to the team that invented the Flyer and company gear. This hefty discount for members is valid for 60 days after the car is first released, according to the terms for the membership.

As of now, the company has not released a price for the flying vehicle, which is an ultralight aircraft or octocopter that needs no runway because it takes off and lands vertically. Kitty Hawk says it can "hold an altitude of up to 15 feet" and is designed to fly over fresh water.

As it operates in the FAR 103 Ultralight Category of US FAA regulations, one does not need a pilot's license to operate it. It doesn't need to be registered, either, and may be flown in uncongested areas.

Sebastian also tweeted a picture of him flying the car with the caption "This is me!! One of over 1,000 successful flights so far by about 15 different riders."

This is me!! One of over 1,000 successful flights so far by about 15 different riders. pic.twitter.com/02eIPXNSt1

— Sebastian Thrun (@SebastianThrun) April 26, 2017

As per reports, Larry Page has spent $100 Mn or more on flying-car startups including including Zee.Aero- a division of Kitty Hawk. But Google is not alone in this pursuit. In fact, Kitty Hawk's attractive membership terms are meant to entice customers as other companies are also clamouring to create flying vehicles.

For instance, Slovakian flying car company AeroMobil has announced it will make its first deliveries of flying cars sometime in 2020. According to AeroMobil, its flying car can transform into a sky-ready plane in under three minutes, during which its retractable wings fold out from being tucked in during road use. A turbocharged boxer engine of around 300 horsepower powers the flying car in both the sky and road. While on road, that engine powers a pair of electric motors that drive the front wheels.

Then there's Lilium Aviation in Munich which is developing the world' first all-electric flying car or fully electric vehicle take-off and landing jet. It has also announced plans for a fiveseater Lilium Jet aimed at on-demand air taxi services.

Of course, there are roadblocks for even flying cars galore. For instance, there is concern about the idea of unmanned drones flying over urban areas, and flying cars would also face similar opposition. Batteries present another issue, because today's battery technology cannot support flights of a reasonable distance, say that of a 30-50 mile commute. Then again, unlike vehicles on the road, these cars cannot pull over in case of an emergency. Lastly, and probably, the most daunting one, for these personal air vehicles to become a reality in the United States or elsewhere, the country would need a new air traffic control system.

However, one thing is certain – flying away to work is no more a dream, but a rather imminent reality. Looks like the stuff we wished were true as kids such as Harry Potter's flying Ford Anglia could be the stuff we will soon be growing up with! What's next – cars that become invisible?

Note: We at Inc42 take our ethics very seriously. More information about it can be found here.

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Source: Larry Page Backed Flying Car Takes Flight, Set To Become Reality By Year End

The first flying car is available for pre-order

AeroMobil is calling this the next-generation vehicle.

The company unveiled their flying car in 2014 but it was not commercially available. Now it's ready and being presented at the Top Marques car show in Monaco.

The vehicle is fully functional as both a car and an aircraft, and its hybrid engine makes it environmentally friendly.

You will need more than just a driver's license to operate the car of the future – a pilot's license will be needed as well.

This isn't the first flying-car concept – Airbus and Italdesign debuted the Pop.Up earlier this year.

As more flying-car concepts get revealed, we can't help but wonder…aren't these just small planes and helicopters with wheels?

Source: http://www.livescience.com/58663-aeromobil-flying-car-available-to-preorder.html

Source: The first flying car is available for pre-order

Uber Plans To Unleash Flying Cars In Dallas And Dubai In 2020

by Martin Bigg9,453 reads

Will the world be ready for flying cars by then?

Automakers are forever trying to persuade us that self-driving technology will revolutionize the car industry in the future. Uber perhaps isn't the best advocate following safety concerns over its self-driving taxis breaking traffic laws in San Francisco, but that hasn't stopped the company from working on its next innovation to bring flying cars closer to reality. After forming its new Uber Elevate division with NASA engineer Mark Moore, the ride-hailing company has announced ambitious plans to trial a new flying taxi service in Dallas and Dubai in 2020.

Announced at the Elevate conference in Dallas this week, Uber is so serious about its future on-demand flying taxi service that it's teamed up with five different manufacturers to develop the flying vehicles, including aviation companies such as Embraer and Bell Helicopter, as well as Hilwood Properties to identify potential take-off and landing pads, or "vertiports," as Uber calls them. The flying cars will be lightweight and electrically powered with zero emissions, and will be able to vertically take off and land like a helicopter. "Urban aviation is a natural next step for Uber in this pursuit, which is why we are working to make 'push a button, get a flight' a reality," Uber's chief product officer Jeff Holden said.

The service is designed to ease traffic congestion, reduce travel times, and offer a cheaper means of transportation than owning a car in the long term. Given Uber's recent spate of controversies and substantial losses last year reported to be $2.8 billion, launching the unproven technology as early as 2020 seems like a lofty goal - and that's without factoring the public's skepticism about autonomous technology.
Source: Uber Plans To Unleash Flying Cars In Dallas And Dubai In 2020

Will Future Taxis Be Vertical-Takeoff Flying Cars? Uber Says Yes

The true believers in vertical takeoff and landing flight are gathering in Dallas this week to promote the use of aircraft as taxis. It's an effort that the concept's champion, Uber, calls "Elevate."

Uber has announced plans to expand its ride-ordering app to the skies, with customers ordering helicopters as easily as they order cars. The vehil will not be like conventional helicopters, being quieter, safer, and designed for urban environments. Uber plans to use Dubai and Dallas as test cities to develop concepts, build vertiports, and prove concepts. They have plans to fly a prototype at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai.

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They will need an industry to make it happen. The Elevate Summit currently happening in Texas is a point around which many in the vertical take off and landing (VTOL) world can rally "to bring together key stakeholders who have been working independently around the globe and across industries"—so says Mark Moore, Uber's director of engineering for aviation.

"It's natural for Uber to turn our eyes to the air," says Jeff Holden, the company's chief product officer. "Push a button and get a flight."

Aerospace companies seem to be amenable to the plans, if only to promote their own emerging technology plans. Senior officials from Embraer, Aurora Flight Sciences, and Bell Helicopters spoke at the conference, each highlighting the opportunities that improving tech can bring to a new transportation system for densely populated areas. No concepts of this new vehicle are being revealed, but the features they will require to operate are already in the works at many aerospace companies, like Bell.

"While creating a real, viable urban air taxi network isn't going to happen tomorrow, this future is closer than many people realize," says Mitch Snyder, Bell's president and CEO.

Sharing flying vehicles solves a lot of problems that plague urban areas, Uber argues. "It's really easy to demonize a car," Holden says. "It's not about the cars themselves—it's how we use those cars. We use them individually; that's where we run into problems." Congestion saps time and causes pollution, while parking takes up too much land because cars sit idle 95 percent of the time.

Urban design, even in cities that have robust systems, still leaves too many people far way from public transit. In Uber's vision, getting people from outer borough and suburbs to the city can be enabled by flying taxis. In London, 30 percent of Uber trips start or end close to a train or tube (subway) station. In the same way, flying taxis could connect riders to transportation hubs. "We don't see Uber as an alternative to mass transit, but as complimentary," Holden says.

Of course, cost could drive down the use of flying taxis. But Holden says that Uber's models indicate that even early operations will cost $1.32 per passenger mile, which is the cost of an UberX. He says it could be cheaper in the future. "It's possible because we're radically reinventing the aircraft we're using," Holden says.

This all sounds great. But even Uber's pitchman says, "This isn't going to be easy."

Helicopters have to be redesigned to accommodate daily urban trips. The big problems are engine and rotor noise, their slow speed compared to fixed wing aircraft, and the high cost of maintenance.

Holden says that calls distributed electrical propulsion "as close to a panacea as you get" for these issues. Using next-generation batteries, aerospace companies are already working on electric powered VTOL aircraft, which the industry calls eVTOL. Next-gen batteries offer long-duration flights and save aircraft weight that is better used for cargo and passengers.

These avoid engine noise, naturally, but also make aircraft safer and cheaper to fly. eVTOL aircraft often have multiple motors, a level of redundancy that avoid the "single point of failure" dilemma that plagues many helicopters. If you're flying something that depends on one piece of equipment to stay in the air, that piece needs to be maintained regularly and lovingly. That increases cost and takes aircraft out of the air — where they earn their keep.

Sharing airspace is another challenge, and one that will depend on government partners. NASA and the FAA representatives also spoke, pledging that the effort will dovetail with drone and new airspace initiatives. For recharging the company is partnering with the company charge+, which has deep

"We like to make big bold bets," says Holden. "If you're not planting the seeds five to ten years out, you wont have a company in five or ten years."

Source: Will Future Taxis Be Vertical-Takeoff Flying Cars? Uber Says Yes

If you build a flying car, will they come?

Flying cars have been a sci-fi promise for decades, and we're hearing that they may be a reality soon. Maybe. But are consumers really waiting with bated breath for a flying car? Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at the University of Michigan's Sustainable Worldwide Transportation group surveyed 508 Americans online in April 2017 to find out what people think of this sci-fi dream becoming reality. TL;DR: Yeah, we're into flying cars.

The respondents were pretty evenly split between male and female, and the age ranges were pretty even from 18 to over 60 years of age. Men were far more likely to be familiar with the idea of flying cars (53 percent versus 78 percent), but about two-thirds of every age group was aware of the concept.

The number-one benefit people imagined for flying cars was shorter travel time, which is a no-brainer. But the people polled were not expecting pie in the sky; more than 8 in 10 were moderately or very concerned about the safety of flying cars. They thought it might not be too hard to learn to use a flying car, with 63 percent being concerned about it. But again, not fools — 75 percent of people wanted a parachute for the vehicle as a whole.

People were very demanding of the technology, however. Most respondents wanted their flying car to plug into the wall to refuel. And nearly half thought a flying car should be able to go about 400 miles before needing to fuel up again, which is more than the range of most modern electric vehicles but a typical range for modern gasoline-powered cars with wheels instead of wings. Not that people wanted wings; they actually preferred the idea of taking off straight up, like a helicopter, rather than needing a runway.

Interestingly, people were a little more interested in a flying autonomous car that would pick them up and take them somewhere rather than having to own, operate and insure their very own flying cars. But if they had to pay for a flying car, most people thought $100,000 to $200,000 seemed reasonable, which is the price of many luxury and super cars.

So, manufacturers, just build shared autonomous electric flying cars with parachutes for less than the price of a new Bentley Continental GT. We're waiting.

Source: If you build a flying car, will they come?

Startup Kitty Hawk backed by Google's Larry Page reveals flying car prototype

Kitty Hawk -- a Silicon-Valley startup named for the Wright Brothers' first controlled flight and backed by Google co-founder Larry Page -- today released the prototype for its first flying car.

The ultralight, one-seater aircraft is "safe, tested, and legal to operate in the United States in uncongested areas," the company said in a statement. "You don't need a pilot's license and you'll learn to fly it in minutes."

The all-electric aircraft, which the company says can automatically hold an altitude of up to 15 feet, can also be referred to as an octocopter.

Enthusiasts will be able to purchase the Kitty Hawk Flyer -- designed for use only over water -- "by the end of 2017" for as-yet unannounced price.

"We believe when everyone has access to personal flight, a new, limitless world of opportunity will open up to them," the company says on its website.

Kitty Hawk is not the only company that's received capital to develop alternative air transportation.

Page reportedly invested in another company, Zee.Aero, working to develop an electric plane that can take off and land vertically and a competing company, Ehang, recently claimed its passenger drone will launch regular service this summer.

Even big-name jet-makers like Airbus have unveiled flying car concepts designed to relieve urban congestion, with prototype test flights slated for later this year.

ABC News' Whitney Lloyd contributed to this report.

Source: Startup Kitty Hawk backed by Google's Larry Page reveals flying car prototype

Updated AeroMobil 4.0 flying car launched

SLOVAKIAN COMPANY AeroMobil launched its flying car in 2014, although when the test vehicle crashed in 2015 it looked to be all over. Fast forward to now and the company says its latest model, the AeroMobil 4.0 is safer, stronger, faster and better than ever.

More importantly, it's also fully certified for both road and air use. It was launched at the Top Marques Show this week in Monaco.

"Today is a transformative day for the future of travel as the launch of the AeroMobil means and that everyday flying transportation will soon be a reality," said Juraj Vaculik, co-founder and CEO of AeroMobil. "To get to this point has seen us bring together a strong team of the best minds and experts in cutting edge automotive, motorsport and aerospace to redefine the boundaries of what is possible in transportation.

Safety has been improved with the exterior and wings constructed from carbon-composite materials. "The vehicle's cockpit is designed to surround the pilot and co-pilot in a high strength monocoque structure that is capable of absorbing and distributing crash and impact energy while maintaining interior integrity. It also incorporates the very latest in vehicle recovery ballistic parachute technology, designed to bring an airborne vehicle back to ground safely should the pilot choose to deploy it. While travelling on the road the occupant restraint system uses pyrotechnic seatbelt technology in conjunction with dual-stage airbags. These systems are equally capable of offering occupant protection should the vehicle get into difficulties while operating as a plane," AeroMobil said in a statement.

The AeroMobil 4.0 is powered, in road mode, by an electric motor powering the front wheels, and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder for the propeller, producing 224kW.

"This launch is a triumph of engineering and design, requiring all our creativity, imagination, passion and technical expertise to deliver an innovative product that is truly ground-breaking," added Douglas MacAndrew, Chief Technology Officer, AeroMobil.  "Everyone in this sector must overcome complex technical challenges in the process of developing a flying vehicle. We believe the vehicle presented today successfully resolves these challenges demonstrating a product that does not compromise either air or road function.  The outcome is a flying car that combines innovative features with a recognisable, high quality experience that pilots and drivers have come to expect."

The AeroMobil 4.0 is available for order now with prices in excess of $1.5 million with the company's first vehicle limited to just 500 units.

"To significantly reduce the cost of flying cars in the long-term, we are bringing an automotive high-volume approach to a traditionally conservative low-volume aerospace industry, significantly cutting components costs via smart design, novel materials and production automation whilst fully conforming with civil aviation industry requirements" said Juraj Vaculik, CEO, AeroMobil.

Key Facts about the AeroMobil Flying Car

Full transformation into flight mode in less than 3 minutes;

Automotive Range  -700km (estimated using NEDC cycle);

Aerospace Max Cruise Range ~750 km @ 75% (1200m, ISA);

Fuel Capacity 90 ltr (95 RON Gasoline);

Direct Drive variable pitch propeller (speed 2400rpm);

Automotive – Top speed 160 km/h;

Aerospace – Vs / Vc / VD – 112 / 259 / 360 km/h;

MTOW Take Off Distance ground roll / 50 ft – 397 / 595 m; and

Max Take Off Weight – 960 kg (useable load 240 kg).

Question: Could AeroMobil have finally hit on the world's first dual-purpose vehicle that might absolutely revolutionise travel?

Source: Updated AeroMobil 4.0 flying car launched

Flying cars could be here sooner than you think

Flying cars could be here sooner than you think

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Source: Flying cars could be here sooner than you think

Flying Cars Are Becoming Reality—But Do You Have What It Takes to Own One?

You were promised flying cars. And pretty soon, you're going to have flying cars. But there will be a couple of rather significant barriers to entry if you decide to take the plunge and buy one.

German firm Lilium demonstrated on Thursday that its all-electric two-seater air taxi really flies. Its vehicle, which offers vertical take-off and landing and uses 36 jet engines mounted on 10-meter-long wings to push it through the sky, is the kind of thing that fuels Uber's fever dreams of an on-demand aviation network.

It's designed to travel around 180 miles on a charge, hitting speeds of 180 miles per hour in flight, and Lilium claims that it could whisk you from central Manhattan to JFK Airport in five minutes at a cost of $36—which it contrasts to a 55-minute taxi ride that could, on a bad day, cost double that. That's the charm of the skies: less traffic and more direct routes.

But Lilium's vehicle isn't road-going, and at any rate who wants to ride in a flying car when you could own one instead?

Right on cue, Slovakian company AeroMobil has also unveiled its first market-ready flying car. The appropriately named, er, Flying Car, which can also whisk you down highways and is pictured above, has been in development for years—a prototype first flew in 2013. But now AeroMobil is making 500 of the vehicles commercially available, promising to deliver them to customers by 2020. 

You will, however, need deep pockets: the car will set you back over $1 million, making it the preserve of the rich for now. Still, for that money you do get impressive specifications: it has a range of 434 miles while driving or 466 miles while flying, with top speeds of 100 miles per hour on tarmac or 224 in the air, and can switch modes in under three minutes. There's even a parachute installed for emergency landings.

Wait, what? That final point brings us rather neatly to the second barrier standing between you and a future of commuting through the skies: bravery. If you feel at all uneasy about the prospect of buckling into a flying car, you are most certainly not alone: a new University of Michigan survey about consumer appetite for the vehicles found that "most Americans are very concerned about the safety of flying cars."

That's not to say that they're intrinsically unsafe—and at any rate, the parachute should help. But a certain leap of faith will be required to entrust one's life to a vehicle the size of a station wagon that also happens to zip through the air. And yet, the allure of freedom and faster journeys may prove to be enough to for many people to make such a leap: the same survey also found that "despite the [safety concerns], most [people] would still ultimately like to use them."

Better get saving, then.

(Read more: Reuters, Wired, University of Michigan, "Uber's New Goal: Flying Cars in Less Than a Decade," "Flying Cars Now Seem a Bit Less Ridiculous, but Not Much," "Who's Brave Enough to Be a Test Pilot for Flying Cars?")

Source: Flying Cars Are Becoming Reality—But Do You Have What It Takes to Own One?

A flying car will be available for preorder for more than $1 million

It may not be quite like the Jetsons, but for over a million dollars you too can soon fly around in a car.

A Slovakian company called AeroMobil unveiled on Thursday its version of a flying car, a light-framed plane with wings that can fold back like an insect's, a hybrid engine and rear propeller.

It will be available to preorder as soon as this year but is not for everyone: Besides the big price tag — between $1.3 million and $1.6 million — you'd need a pilot's license to use it in the air.

"I think it's going to be a very niche product," said Philip Mawby, professor of electronic engineering and head of research at the University of Warwick.

Several companies are working on flying cars, either like Aeromobil's two-seater that needs a runway, or others that function more like helicopters, lifting off vertically. But not many companies are seriously looking at marketing these vehicles anytime soon, Mawby said.

"The technology is there. ... The question is bringing it to the market at an affordable cost, and making it a useful product."

Among the big questions is how to control the air traffic if there are hundreds of such vehicles zipping through the air. There is no control except for traditional aircraft, notes Mawby.

So while vehicles like the AeroMobil could be used for recreational purposes by people who have a large piece of land, flying cars are unlikely to become a mass-market reality anytime soon, he says.

The AeroMobil has a driving range of about 62 miles and a top speed of 99 mph. When flying, its maximum cruising range is 466 miles, and it takes about three minutes for the car to transform into a plane.

"You can use it as a regular car," said Juraj Vaculik, co-founder and chief executive of Aeromobil, at the unveiling in Monaco. Though it is not legal —yet — to take off from a highway.

The previous AeroMobil 3.0 prototype made news in 2014 when it was presented in Vienna, but no test flight took place then. It crashed during a test flight in Slovakia in 2015 with its inventor Stefan Klein on board. He escaped largely unharmed.

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Source: A flying car will be available for preorder for more than $1 million

Woz’s Crystal Ball: Life On Mars, Flying Cars—And Robots In Charge

After its smash first year in 2016, Silicon Valley Comic Con is back. The three-day geek fest kicks off Friday in Downtown San Jose and runs through Sunday April 23, and legendary Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak will once more be presiding.

The event bills itself as a perfect pairing of pop culture and tech and, for a comics convention, carries a pretty heavy theme: "The Future of Humanity: Where Will We Be in 2075?"

While it also includes the usual hijinks like cosplay and appearances by celebs like Star Trek's William Shatner, Batman's Adam West, and The Flash's Grant Gustin, there will also be panel discussions built around its theme.

Wozniak, the driving force behind SVCC, said he makes sure the three-day nerd-a-thon comes with a Woz twist.

"It had to be different because it's mine. I didn't want to do the same old things," Woz tells me. "So (last year) we built in a huge technology element. We had scientists talking about living on Mars, and artificial intelligence vs. super gene-edited babies. We had demand for more of that so we've expanded this year."

This year's show also includes a science fair competition, presentations by NASA and Virgin Galactic, the first-ever presentation of all the X-prize tricorder finalists, and tons of robots.

"We've got the popular culture stuff, and the people who are working on ideas and technologies that might apply to making some of those popular culture science fiction things a reality," he says.

As for what Woz thinks we'll be doing in 2075, he had some intriguing thoughts.

[Photo: Flickr/SDASM Archives] Earthlings On Mars

By 2075, the idea of "having a colony on Mars is reasonable," he says. "We've never been able to establish a colony on the moon, which is a lot closer, but there are a lot of reasons and the scientists in our panels will explain those reasons—why the moon cannot be developed to support humanity and Mars can. Mars has the elements and the ingredients that can do it."

He expects there will at the very least be a small colony, akin to an International Space Station.

"I'll buy a one-way ticket to Mars to be one of the explorers," he says.

As for what we'll be toting around in our pockets here on Earth in 60 years, Woz thinks we won't have completely abandoned personal computers and smartphones. He sees us using a device that's hand-sized, but also wearable. Just like cars have maintained the same general shape and design (four wheels and a body) for the past 100 years, we'll see the same in phones and wearables. One thing that will change in the coming years: cars.

[Photo: Flickr user National Archive] The Car Of The Future

By 2075, Woz thinks we'll all be tooling around in self-driving cars.

"I believe that it's not only possible but going to happen," he says. "I think the costs are trivial to do that and the benefits are so great. Cars that you drive are just going to be a sport. Small areas that you're allowed to go out and have the experience of the old car days."

What we may have to wait for, however, are flying cars.

"Cars that fly themselves are always in comic books. Is it possible? Yeah, but I say there's laws of physics. There's lots of problems in the way. Most of the problems are people, how we live, our infrastructure today," he says. "There's an awful lot of free space where we could probably start a flying community."

In his opinion, one of the big obstacles in the way of flying cars is energy. It takes a ton of energy to lift you off the ground and start flying. While there have been a few examples already of people getting close to success, Woz says that for it to truly be a reality there will have to be low-cost options that people can afford and lots of energy available.

"I don't think that could happen by '75. I think it's going to take too much of our infrastructure to convert over, that's too short a time frame, maybe another hundred years for sure," he says. Once we do get flying cars, however, he thinks we won't ever have to worry about learning how to fly them. Just like cars, they'll be self-driving.

While computers will likely take over the wheel, Woz says not to expect them to take over every aspect of our lives anytime soon.

[Photo: Flickr user Internet Archive] AI And The Robot Revolution

"I think AI is amazing because when I was young I never thought a computer could equal the human mind," he says.

While artificial intelligence is certainly getting smarter, Woz says not to count on getting to a point where we just think about things and a machine will know what we want and be prepared to meet our every demand.

"I don't buy into that. I don't think that the mind is advanced enough for that. Could we just talk and listen for everything? Well, we're getting further along in that regard, but I just don't believe it will do enough of the job," he says.

He thinks in a lot of ways what we currently define as intelligence is something a little different. For instance, if we teach a machine how to play chess better than a human then it's deemed "intelligent." However, to get to that place, a human had to decide to program the computer to learn chess and develop a strategy for learning that made it better than everyone else. The computer couldn't have decided "Oh, I'm going to learn chess and be the best at it" on its own.

"A computer that hasn't lived a human life is going to have trouble being creative in a human creative sense," he says. Just because we won't see it in 60 years doesn't mean it won't happen at all," he says.

"Almost every expert agrees that it's very possible that someday every little robot walking around will be smart, personable, and have feelings and consciousness just like a human. Very possible. How long it will take is in dispute. I think the best minds today are saying decades, and it might even be hundreds of years," he says.

"Somehow there's something in us from our evolution or whatever that forces us to seek and create new things and make changes. If it's in us, it must have a purpose or a meaning. What does it get us to? That ultimate happy in heaven [where] we all have everything we want?" he riffs. "We all keep thinking we're going to get happy and not have to work and live. Let's go there. What if these machines did everything we needed in life and we humans just got to enjoy the benefits of it like our dogs? We'd be taken care of so well, we'd be so happy."

Woz says after he got that idea he started feeding his dogs filet mignon. "If I'm going to be a pet someday—do unto others as you would have done unto you," he says, as his dogs Ziggy and Zelda lay sprawled out napping beside him.

"Artificial intelligence, even if it totally kind of ran the world and we humans didn't really have the important role of deciding how to make the world better in the future—I think we'd still be happy and I don't think it would be a bad thing. But I don't think it's going to happen in my lifetime," he says. "When it happens, I don't think humans are going to be all upset."

Source: Woz's Crystal Ball: Life On Mars, Flying Cars—And Robots In Charge

Flying cars may be poised to take off, but survey shows Americans want a parachute

Flying cars are beginning to look less like science fiction these days, with big companies and small start-ups developing working prototypes. Nothing's commercially available yet, but experts say highway vehicles with wings are possible over the next five to 10 years.

What do consumers think? Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at the University of Michigan's Sustainable Worldwide Transportation Program conducted a nationwide survey and found:

Nearly two-thirds of Americans are familiar with the concept of flying cars — though, curiously, 78% of men surveyed were familiar compared with 53% of women.

The most likely benefit of flying cars: shorter travel time, according to three-quarters of those surveyed.

About 63% said they're "very concerned" about flying car safety, but the other 37% said they're not.

What about flying cars in congested airspace, or flying cars in poor weather? The breakdown is similar.

Flying at night? Not a problem. Less than half are "very concerned."

As for takeoff and landing, most respondents — 83% — would prefer vertical launch to taking flight runway-style. (The survey didn't ask, but earth-bound cars and truck drivers may feel even more strongly about it.)

Nearly 80% said a parachute would be "very" or "extremely" important.

SurveyMonkey polled Americans 18 and older from its respondent database and received 508 fully completed surveys. The margin of error at the 95% confidence level for the overall results is plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

russ.mitchell@latimes.com

Twitter: @russ1mitchell

UPDATES:

10:20 a.m. This article was updated with details of the survey methodology.

This article was originally published at 10 a.m.

Source: Flying cars may be poised to take off, but survey shows Americans want a parachute

Forget Kitty Hawk, commuters could soon be hailing a CityHawk: Four passenger flying car powered by giant fans revealed

Based on the Cormorant, a military craft set to ferry wounded soldiers from the battlefield 

The development of CityHawk is expected to take five years, and it will be able to run on a range of fuels

Self flying version also under development to allow five passengers to be carried 

By Mark Prigg For Dailymail.com

Published: 17:09 EDT, 17 April 2017 | Updated: 17:21 EDT, 17 April 2017

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While the flying car is yet to become commonplace, an Israeli firm believes its version of the much anticipated transport could seen be ferrying passengers around in the air.

Called the CityHawk, the five seater could be ferrying four passengers using giant jet fuel powered fans.

It is based on the Cormorant, a military craft set to ferry wounded soldiers from the battlefield.

Scroll down for video 

The radical design uses enclosed fans, allowing it to land and take off in enclosed spaces. Although initial versions will have a pilot, future craft will be able to fly themselves.

'Metro Skyways Ltd., a subsidiary of Urban Aeronautics plans to launch the design and development of a four-passenger, Vertical-Takeoff and Landing (VTOL), flying car based on Urban Aeronautics' internal rotor, Fan craft™ technology.' the firm said today.

The vehicle will initially be powered by jet fuel, but will be designed from the outset to convert to liquid hydrogen and eventually also to 700 bar compressed hydrogen, once such options become commercially feasible.  

'CityHawk is unique in combining a compact, car-sized design that has a four passenger capacity, no exposed rotors or wings, no batteries and potential for zero carbon emissions,' the firm says. 

The development of CityHawk is expected to take five years and draws on UrbanAero's experience in developing and flight testing its one ton, unmanned Cormorant that is being developed by the company's second subsidiary, Tactical Robotics Ltd. 

CityHawk will be similar to Cormorant in shape and size. 

CityHawk will initially be piloted by a human pilot, the technology is being developed and tested on Tactical Robotics' Cormorant prototype which already flies fully autonomously.

Cormorant has so far accumulated in excess of 200 flight tests. 

CityHawk's first public demonstration will take place at an airshow shortly after completion of development. 

CityHawk will initially be piloted by a human pilot, the technology is being developed and tested on Tactical Robotics' Cormorant prototype whi ch already flies fully autonomously. 

As the technology of autonomy and regulatory infrastructure mature, CityHawk will eventually transport passengers robotically.

The hydrogen powered version of the craft will rely on direct feed of hydrogen into a state-of-the art turboshaft engine as an alternative to fuel cells and electric motors.  

All CityHawks will be equipped with a standard rocket deployed parachute that will bring them safely down to the ground should any flight critical event occur while airborne. 

A flying ambulance has successfully completed its first ever autonomous flight. Dubbed the Cormorant, this vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is designed to carry 1,000 pounds every 31 miles, allowing it to deliver suppliers to war zones and carry wounded soldiers to safety

CORMORANT FIGURES

Capacity: 2 patients 

Length: 20 ft 4 in (6.2 m) 

Width: 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m) , 2.15 m without thrusters 

Height: 7 ft 7 in (2.3 m) , 1.8 m without thrusters

Urban Aeronautics is currently talking with potential partners and investors interested in participating in funding the CityHawk project.

Meanwhile work continues on its military brother, the Cormorant.  

Dubbed the Cormorant, this vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is capable of carrying 1,000 pounds over 31 miles, allowing it to deliver supplies to war zones and carry wounded soldiers to safety.

The craft is also designed to make 'split decisions' if issues should occur during a mission - it either continues its journey, retreats home or lands for further instructions from a human operator. 

The prototype has taken two years to complete, but its creators are hopeful that it will be able to reach places traditional helicopters can't in the near future.

The Cormorant was developed by the Israeli firm Tactical Robotics, a subsidiary of the 'Fancraft' technology pioneer Urban Aeronautics, who has conducted more than 200 flights with this military machine. 

Its sole purpose is to transport troops, civilian passengers or supplies within tight quarters where helicopters are unable to travel.

This test flight, which was carried out on November 3, was the first time the Cormorant took to the skies over uneven terrain while piloting itself.

Urban Aeronautics' demonstration brings this te chnology one-step closer to assisting soldiers in search and rescue missions, as it is able to access dangerous war zones that are unsafe for humans.

'This flight paves the way forward for the immediate evolution of Cormorant from prototype to near-term production and ultimately commercialization of this groundbreaking technology - for broad applications and markets, said Urban Aeronautics founder Rafi Yoeli.

'This is the most exciting time in the Company's history and we look forward to accelerating our progress now that the technology is fully proven.'

Engineers designed the craft with a Flight Management System (FMS), which lets it to make 'split second decisions' if any of its sensors detect a problem during a mission.

The craft will then make the judgment call on its own - it decides between continuing the journey, retreating home or making an immediate landing to wait for further instructions from a human operator.

The Cormorant was developed the Israeli firm Tactical Robotics, a subsidiary of the 'Fancraft' technology pioneer Urban Aeronautics, who has conducted more than 200 flights with this military machine. This test flight (pictured), which was carried out on November 3, was the first time the Cormorant took to the skies over uneven terrain while piloting itself

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF THE CORMORANT?

Has completed about 200 flights with the prototype.

Can carry just a little over 1,000 pounds of cargo.

It can reach speeds of  100 knots (115 mph) and operate at altitudes of up to 18,000 feet.

Features lift rotors that are safely enclosed inside its body and uses duct fans to operate.

Powered by remote control or autonomous control system and it's equipped with rear propellers that enable it to take-off horizontally.  

The vehicles are powered by a 730 shp Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft and the final versions will use the more powerful ARRIEL 2 variant, capable of providing 985 shp at ta keoff.

Tactical Robotics Ltd hopes the Cormorant will be in the field over the next few years.

Cormorant will be able to deliver supplies day after day and can also be a maritime force multiplier on vessels that are too small for a traditional helicopter, as noted by Defense Update.

'The challenge in designing and testing an FMS for a configuration that is has never been addressed by standard flight control algorithms, is analogous to a novice pilot attempting to fly for the first time with an understanding of basic aerodynamic principles but no instructor,' explained Urban Aeronautics.

The Cormorant is set to replace medivac choppers, like the one from the television show MASH (pictured), in order to reach tight quarters helicopters cannot go 

During the test flight, Cormorant's FMS corrected itself in response to unexpected events.

Two instances were related to height above ground over the field (resulting from inaccuracies in laser beam return over uneven terrain and ground conditions).

The third event occurred over the tarmac, which was caused by 'poor judgment' on the part of the Flight Control System (FCS), causing the aircraft to descend too early in its landing approach.

Instead of using traditional propellers, the Cormorant is designed with duct fans that keep the rotors enclosed in a protective shield in case the vehicle hits a wall or any other object in its path, reports LiveScience.

These duct fans enable it to to take-off and land horizontally, and it also has vertical movement that is controlled by internal rotors, which can only be seen from directly above or below. 

 Engineers designed the craft with a Flight Management System (FMS), which lets it to make 'split second decisions' if any of its sensors detect a problem during a mission. The craft will then make the judgment call on its own - it decides between continuing the journey, retreating home or making an immediate landing to wait for further instructions

However, Urban Aeronautics reveals that the team is working on obstacle avoidance sensors that will keep the vehicle away from oncoming objects, which they hope to add to the vehicle in the near future. 

The Cormorant has enough strength to carry 1,000 pounds per 30 miles, which means it can hull about 13,000 pounds in a full day.

The craft flies itself using an array of laser altimeters, radars and sensors, and  it is capable of reaching speeds of 100 knots (115 mph) and operate at altitudes of up to 18,000 feet.

It weighs abo ut one-ton and can be operated with a specially made remote control or by using its own autonomous control system.

 Two instances were related to height above ground over the field (resulting from inaccuracies in laser beam return over uneven terrain and ground conditions). The third event occurred over the tarmac, which was caused by 'poor judgment' on the part of the Flight Control System (FCS), causing the aircraft to descend too early in its landing approach

Earlier this year, the Cormorant, which was known as the 'AirMule' at the time, hit a milestone that allowed it to successfully complete its autonomous flight. 

In January, the craft performed its first ever untethered flight, which it demonstrated a vertical takeoff and landing, followed by stability checks and forward flights at low speeds, reports Defense Update.

 'Looking back at a decade of internal rotor VTOL aircraft development at Urban Aeronautics Ltd', said Yoeli regarding the earlier this year.< /p>

'It gives me great satisfaction to see that we are able to transform a dream into a safe and reliable aircraft that is designed to meet manned helicopters safety criteria and absolutely stands up to existing airworthiness standards.'

 The craft flies itself using an array of laser altimeters, radars and sensors, and it is capable of reaching speeds of 100 knots (115 mph) and operate at altitudes of up to 18,000 feet. It weighs about one-ton and can be operated with a specially made remote control or by using its own autonomous control system

With the strength of the Cormorant, it will be able to deliver supplies day after day and can also be a maritime force multiplier on vessels that are too small for a traditional helicopter, as noted by Defense Update.

The craft's test flight took place on December 30th at the Megiddo airfield in the northern part of Isra el. Urban Aeronautics is also working on compact, car-sized VTOL aircraft for civilians, called Metro Skyways.

'Metro Skyways is at an early stage of exploring business opportunities that will develop Urban's 'Fancraft' technologies into a family of safe, FAA certifiable personal and commercial, manned VTOL aircraft for the civil market', according to the company.

This model may be the flying cars we have all so desperately hoped for.

 Earlier this year, the Cormorant, which was known as the 'AirMule' at the time, hit a milestone that allowed it to successfully complete its autonomous flight. In January, the craft performed its first ever untethered flight, which it demonstrated a vertical takeoff and landing, followed by stability checks and forward flights at low speeds

 

 

Source: Forget Kitty Hawk, commuters could soon be hailing a CityHawk: Four passenger flying car powered by giant fans revealed

Flying Car, AeroMobil ready for pre-order this year after 10 years in making – See How it works (Photos/Video)

It's increasingly becoming apparent that future cars will be flying, literally. And it could be sooner that everyone anticipated, as the world's top flying car maker prepares to unleash its first ever flying machine after more than a decade in the making.

This car is called AeroMobil

The car, called AeroMobil, has reportedly been redesigned with hundreds of improvements. It is set to take the stage at Top Marques Monaco super car show on 20th April 2017.

The firm has even completed the interior of the craft, and says it is undergoing advanced flight tests in Slovakia

With the flying car, AeroMobil aims to make personal transportation more efficient by offering the choice of transport on the road or in the sky, and forever putting an end to traffic jam nightmares.

AeroMobil will launch its new model of the flying car at the super car show next week, which the team says was built in compliance with the existing regulatory frameworks for both cars and airplanes.

AeroMobil has been redesigned with hundreds of improvements and will take the stage at Top Marques Monaco super car show on April 20.

"By combining aero and car functionality in perfect harmony it heralds a new era in efficient and exciting travel, offering users an unparalleled choice of transport on the road or in the air," says the AeroMobil team.

Built from light-weight steel framework and carbon coating, when converted into a plane, the vehicle measures just over 26 feet wide and 19 feet long to accommodate two people.

READ  See The 10 Signs Your Girlfriend Just Slept With Someone Else

The team reportedly began this journey in 1990 with a sketch of a vision for the future of transportation.

"We have been developing the concept of a flying car since 1990. Our first model looked quite bizarre and it would have problems in the regular use," says Tatiana Veber, the AeroMobil spokesman. "That was a signal to improve the concept of the flying car in a way to become an integral part of the regular road traffic."

About 10 years later, it has morphed into a fully functioning machine.

"We got a positive feedback from several experts in avionics, which appreciated design and the technical solution of the process of transformation. The car is constructed to be fuelled at regular gas stations using the fuel for Rotax 912 ULS engine," says Veber.

The flying car manufacturer brags that its vehicle is capable of tucking away its wings once it reaches the ground, thus allowing it to seamlessly pull into the traditional parking spots.

The machine diagram

The flying car reportedly has a range of 310 miles and measures nearly five feet long when used as a car. It is built from light-weight steel framework and carbon coating and is convertible into a plane. It measures just over 26 feet wide and 19 feet long and can accommodate two people.

Watch this pace!

Watch video of a flying car:

Source: Flying Car, AeroMobil ready for pre-order this year after 10 years in making – See How it works (Photos/Video)

Flying Car Will Actually Be Available To Purchase This Year

Get your driving and pilot licenses ready for the AeroMobil

The world's first flying car is set to go from render to reality, with preorders launching during this year and deliveries starting in the next two. AeroMobil, the Slovak startup behind the project, will unveil the latest model at Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, which takes place from April 20 to April 23.​

The new model comes almost three years after the initial prototype which was unveiled in Vienna, Austria and will be the first commercially available machine produced by the venture capital-backed company.

Powered by hybrid propulsion, the vehicle has been designed to comply with existing regulatory frameworks for both cars and airplanes, but will require Sport Pilot License as well as regular driving license to operate.

AeroMobil

Source: Flying Car Will Actually Be Available To Purchase This Year

Car sent flying in terrifying dash cam footage of crash

Sharon Holyoake ran to help (Picture: SWNS)

A shocking dash camera video showed the moment two cars smashed into each other on a road.

In the footage a silver Vauxhall Zafira crashed into a red Ford Fiesta after it pulled out in front of it in the overtaking lane.

Woman finds 'child's tooth' in Cadbury's Creme Egg

The collision on the A361 in Devizes, Witshire, on April 8 sent both cars flying in opposite directions.

The video was filmed by Sharon Holyoake, who had been a passenger in a car travelling behind both vehicles.

Mrs Holyoake, 39, who ran to help the drivers, then posted the clip on Facebook with a stark warning.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

She wrote: 'Thought I'd post the following video in the vain hope that we all take a little more care on the Wiltshire roads this summer (myself included).

We don't know why Jeremy Corbyn was posing next to a toilet

'I appeal for this post not to become a witch hunt or a finger pointing session. Blame is not my concern here – just awareness.

'The most important thing is that everyone walked away unharmed, if not extremely shaken from this crash.

'Please slow down and be vigilant. This crash could have been so much worse. Everyone involved was extremely lucky.'

One of the cars pulled out in front of the other (Picture: SWNS)

An ambulance was called to the scene and the road was closed.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the accident.

Police confirmed a lamppost was knocked down as a result of the crash.

Source: Car sent flying in terrifying dash cam footage of crash

Longtime NASA Engineer Teams Up With Uber To Develop Flying Cars

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Uber is working on a product that could be a dream come true for Jetsons fans.

The transportation service has taken on a veteran NASA engineer in hopes of developing flying cars.

Mark Moore was with NASA for 30 years before teaming up with Uber in the role of director of engineering for aviation.

As 1010 WINS' John Montone reported, it's no flight of fancy — Uber Elevate would be a vertical liftoff mini-plane.

But once the flying cars are here, they'll need passengers.

"No, no, not especially in New York. Too many buildings, too many problems," Dante said.

Fred, a young Uber driver believes flying Ubers are the future, but that also means airborne traffic jams.

"Supposed to be air cops, air NYPD cars, the same problems on the ground will be in the air too," he said.

Source: Longtime NASA Engineer Teams Up With Uber To Develop Flying Cars

Flying cars could be available to buy this year

It looks pretty cool (Picture: Ferrari Press Agency)

You might be able to avoid traffic in the future by simply taking off in your car.

The first flying vehicle, the AeroMobil, will apparently be available to pre-order this year.

It will then be released to customers in 2018, according to the Slovakian company's CEO Juraj Vaculik.

The lion and bear rescued from Mosul Zoo are looking much better now

'We don't even need airports,' he said.

'If something like a flying Uber and flying Lyft will be on the market, I think many users will find this a very efficient way to move.'

MORE: Trump says relations with Russia 'may be at an all time low'

The AeroMobil can reach a top speed of 100 mph on the ground and 124mph in the air.

The makers claim it can take off on rough terrain within just 750 feet and only needs 150 feet to land.

Once in the air it will be able to travel for 430 miles and will have an autopilot installed, the company added.

MORE: Motorway shut as smoke from huge fire billows over carriageway

It's also quite handy on the road (Picture: Ferrari Press Agency)

There's one possible stumbling block according to Mr Vaculik and that's government regulation.

He added: 'We need to match 100 years of bureaucracy in the air and 100 years of bureaucracy on the ground. It's not easy.'

No price has been announced but we're guessing it's going to be expensive.

MORE: Hypnotic video shows robots sort parcels in a huge warehouse

MORE: 'Charging Bull' artist says that the 'Fearless Girl' statue violates his rights

Source: Flying cars could be available to buy this year

aeromobil's new flying car model will be available to purchase this year

aeromobil's new flying car model will be available to purchase this year

founded in 1990, areomobile has long since been perfecting its flying car prototype, with the first version of the 3.0 model unveiled back in 2014. yet it seems that this is the year that the air-to-sky vehicle will go from render to reality, with the company announcing that the new model will be launched at top marques monaco on april 20th this year. the new model of aeromobil will be the company's first commercially available vehicle and is set to hit the market this year—meaning you could own a flying car within the next eight months.

aeromobil has released teaser images for the new flying car, to be unveiled april 20

 

 

aeromobil—which recently received $3.2 M in investment funding—have already revealed that the next generation flying car will feature hundreds of improvements in both design and engineering compared to the original aerolmobil 3.0 prototype that was unveiled two and a half years ago in vienna, austria. in order to avoid any delays in getting the cars off the ground (quite literally), the vehicle has been designed in compliance with the existing regulatory frameworks for both cars and airplanes.

aeromobil is a completely integrated aircraft, as well as a fully functional four-wheeled car

 

the aeromobil 3.0 is a completely integrated aircraft, as well as a fully functional four-wheeled car, powered by hybrid propulsion. the slovakian company have always set out to make sophisticated flying cars commercially available, heralding a new era in efficient and exciting travel. by seamlessly combining the functionality of both cars and aeroplanes, the vehicle wants to offer users an unparalleled choice of transport whether it be by road or sky.

 

the original aeromobil 3.0 prototype, unveiled in 2014 

 

 

the company–led by Juraj Vaculik, CEO and Douglas MacAndrew, CTO–aims to make personal transportation even more efficient and environmentally friendly by cutting wasted miles in allowing significantly faster door-to-door travel. the aeromobil flying car is designed with medium distance trips in mind, and wants to allow users to get from a to b, regardless of where roads have been built. the flying car will be available for pre-orders during this year, and visitors to the top marques monaco will get a real-life preview of the futuristic vehicle.

beatrice murray-nag I designboom

apr 11, 2017

Source: aeromobil's new flying car model will be available to purchase this year

Watch shocking moment drink-drive mum sends car flying 15ft into the air - with her baby in the back

This is the moment a drink-driving Coventry mum launched her car 15ft in to the air, landing on its roof, while her one-year-old son was in the back seat.

Tania Chikwature, 32, was more than three times the drink-drive limit, having been downing vodka, when she lost control of her Nissan Qashqai as she drove to a wake.

She overtook a lorry on the approach to a roundabout before her vehicle mounted the concrete island and flipped over the roundabout, colliding with the crash barrier and coming to a stop about 50 metres further up the road.

This is the moment a drink-driving Coventry mum launched her car 15ft in to the air, landing on its roof, while her one-year-old son was in the back seat. Read More

The entire incident was caught in dash-cam footage and Chikwature was today jailed for six months having admitted drink-driving and dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

District judge Ken Sheraton also banned her from driving for three years and said: "It's only by luck and certainly by no judgment of yours that you're not here today facing far more serious charges and you're fortunate that somebody didn't die in that accident."

Corrine Soanders-Silk, prosecuting, said that Chikwature, of Butterfly Walk, Henley Green, was seen overtaking a HGV on the wrong side of solid white lines on the A606 in Peterborough at around 11.40am on December 12.

Her 19-month-old son was in the back of the car at the time and members of the public who went to their aid pulled the child, who was hanging upside down in his car seat, out of the wreckage.

Chikwature suffered unspecified injuries.

Wreckage of car flipped by drink-driver Tania Chikwature from Coventry. Her one-year-old son was also in the car.

The entire incident was captured on a dash-cam and was witnessed by lorry driver Richard Jones.

He said in a written statement to Peterborough Magistrates' Court that he saw the car approaching "at speed" in his mirrors and had to brake to allow the car to complete the overtake manoeuvre.

"The car seemed out of control and from the speed it came past me I knew it wasn't making the roundabout," he said.

"I saw it veer right and mount the concrete roundabout.

Read More

"I remember thinking as it launched into the air, they're not going to make it."

He said the car went about 14ft in the air.

"It cleared the roundabout, hitting a tree as it flew over it," he said. "I could see utter devastation."

The toddler was freed from the vehicle by a passing motorist and Chikwature was freed by firefighters.

Ms Soanders-Silk said that apart from being shocked, the toddler "thankfully was unhurt".

Wreckage of car flipped by drink-driver Tania Chikwature from Coventry. Her one-year-old son was also in the car.

She said the defendant refused to provide police with a breath sample at the scene, but agreed to give a blood sample four hours later in hospital.

Police, using a back calculation, found she had 246 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath at the time of the incident. The legal limit is 80mcg.

"She said she had been drinking vodka from 9pm to 1am the night before," said Ms Soanders-Silk. "She said she didn't feel drunk."

The court heard a vodka bottle was found in the car.

Read More

Chikwature, a married stay-at-home mother, denied she had an alcohol problem.

"She did state 'I could have killed my son'," said Ms Soanders-Silk.

Sarah Dunne, mitigating, said Chikwature was remorseful and of previous good character.

Chikwature was jailed for 26 weeks for dangerous driving and 12 weeks for drink-driving to run concurrently.

She was banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £115 costs.

PC David Tudman, from Cambridgeshire Police, said: "Chikwature showed complete disregard for the safety and welfare of her child and other road users in her manner of driving.

"It is pure luck that nobody was killed that day.

"This should serve as a warning to all motorists to highlight the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol; and to do so whilst in charge of a child is utterly irresponsible."

Source: Watch shocking moment drink-drive mum sends car flying 15ft into the air - with her baby in the back

AeroMobil (Flying Car Startup) Raises $3.2 Million In New Funding

Aviation

Published on April 9th, 2017 | by James Ayre

April 9th, 2017 by James Ayre 

The European flying car startup AeroMobil has raised €3 million in new funding, which will be used to help fund production and demonstration of "a new physical model" of its concept, according to the company.

To be more specific, the company will be using some of the new funds to build the new model "following the successful development and testing of the craft's mathematical and geometric design," to use TechCrunch's phrasing.

Here's more from that coverage: "The company has already been demonstrating the ability of its craft to successfully navigate both air and land, using the AeroMobil 3.0 prototype it debuted in late 2014. The pre-launch craft closely approximates the final version, and the company now says it's even closer to that production craft, with the forthcoming physical model resembling closely the version intended for production."

"AeroMobil's new funding comes from individual investor Patrick Hessel, himself a founder of c2i, a maker of aerospace and automotive parts constructed from composite material. c2i is a supplier for AeroMobil, and recently sold a majority ownership stake to LG Hausy, an LG subsidiary that supplies lightweight components for use in aviation and automotive applications."

Interesting. Though, I maintain that with how impatient and careless most drivers are, the idea of flying cars is one I'm skeptical of — unless, of course, the licensing process is incredibly stringent (in which case the technology becomes simply a toy for the rich). What do you think — vaporware? Or will flying cars actually become a real thing at some point?

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Tags: AeroMobil, AeroMobil 3.0 prototype, c2i, flying cars

About the Author

James Ayre 's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy. You can follow his work on Google+.

Source: AeroMobil (Flying Car Startup) Raises $3.2 Million In New Funding

E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X; The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi

E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by AutoReportNG: 11:06am On Apr 07 Volocopter has long since been developing their 18 rotor multi-copters, and after six years in the making, the German startup has premiered the volocopter 2X at AERO in Friedrichshafen. the 2X model marks the evolution of the VC200 prototype towards everyday use, using a battery replacement system that allows for a quick swap between journeys. the 2X also sees the streamlining of the multi- copter's design, incorporating glazed doors and upholstered leather seats into the two-man cockpit below the delicate rotor plane. the craft can also be controlled via a remote and is even capable of flying completely autonomously.

The volocopter 2X is a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) craft powered purely by electricity, meaning the vehicle is emission free and makes very little noise in comparison to other VTOL aircraft. The ultralight aircraft is easy to manoeuvre, and following the granting of 'multicopter' certification, will be able to be flown by anyone with a sports pilot licens e. however, the those without a license need not miss out, since the volocopter plan to use the aircraft as flying taxis come 2018.

Although the design of the 2X also allows for remote-controlled or even completely autonomous flights, for the first flying taxi pilot projects, e-volo assumes the volocopter 2X will still be pilot-controlled due to currently applicable regulations. nonetheless, remote-controlled or autonomous taxi flights will be able to be carried out unmanned as necessary.

Following the granting of a 'multicopter' type certification that will be created under the new german UL category, the 2X is set to become available on the german market in 2018. E-volo also plan to work on developing a 4-seater copter with international approval.

Source:http://www.autoreportng.com/2017/04/e-volo-unveils-volocopter-2x-18-rotor.html

3 Likes 3 Shares

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by AutoReportNG: 11:07am On Apr 07

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Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by obafemee80(m): 11:44am On Apr 07

19 Likes

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by unclezuma: 6:58am

3 Likes 2 Shares

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by dbynonetwork: 6:59am I AM TIRED OF BLAMING BUHARI...

While in Nigeria some youths are thinking about how to use charm to make more money by YAHOO-YAHOO....In the western part of Nigeria OGUN STATE is championing RITUALISM....

THE SE still doing drugs n fake things........Which way NIGERIA?...

29 Likes

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by smartty68(m): 6:59am Chai. See innovation and we still dey backwards for Naija.

Na for only Naija wey gallop dey for sea and air

4 Likes

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by crackerspub: 6:59am

4 Likes

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by Nuelton(m): 6:59am

Good stuff!

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by Ronaldinnioh(f): 6:59am

Bbj

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by mfujah(m): 6:59am

So cool

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by ExAngel007(f): 7:00am

Beautiful!

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by clickbnkgod: 7:00am

Cool stuffs. But these things will be way too expensive sha

1 Like

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by bmxshop: 7:00am

Price?

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by osile2012: 7:00am

Nice.

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by sakalisis(m): 7:01am

Ok

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by Error111: 7:01am

Dear NairalandersPlease i don't like how my skin looks very rough & unsexy, i want you to kindly suggest a good body cream for me.I want a cream that will make my skin very soft, fresh, smooth, and fair (without bleaching)Please i really need your suggestions.Thanks

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by fridayokoli: 7:02am Chai.... Am still sleeping when i saw this post.... Nawa ooo too early...

But visit http://yoloaded.com

1 Like

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by Dottore: 7:02am

Wowihn

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by ikp120(m): 7:02am

3 Likes

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by anelen(m): 7:02am

electric poles and wire go gree make dis tin work for Niger?

5 Likes 2 Shares

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by DIKEnaWAR: 7:02am

We are still importing large chunks of refurbished and fairly used kekes. That shows that we too are ready for the 22nd century. We have already advanced beyond the 21st.

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by sleeknick(m): 7:03am

And we are here still trying to produce pencil

3 Likes

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by Handsomecole(m): 7:03am See the speed which other countries are using to develop, our own is based on logistics and promoting the boss nation.

8 Likes

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by herdekunley9ja: 7:03am

So beautiful..... Guy i must get 1 before i die oooo

2 Likes

Re: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X, The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi by Lukenitheooo6: 7:04am

E don enter naija

Source: E-Volo Unveils Volocopter 2X; The 18 Rotor Flying Taxi

The Nigerian inventor building a flying jet car

Durojaiye, nicknamed 'Kenny jet,' calls his ambitious invention 'an aero-amphibious jet car' and he told CNN he has achieved two out of his three goals.

"I tested it in the sea and a lot of people were surprised it can move on the land and sea," he said. "That's one of those things that amazes people."

Durojaiye told he has traveled as far as Ibadan (84 miles away from Lagos) in his car and claims it can move 120 kilometers per hour on land and at least six knots on the sea.

In a sea of Toyotas and Hyundais, Durojaiye's unconventional looking car certainly turns heads.

Behind the wheel of the aero-amphibious car

A keen inventor since childhood, the 46-year old spends a lot of time at his workshop, which sits on a dump site next to the Lagos lagoon.

The married father of four has made four prototype cars, from everyday, discarded materials like wood, plastic and Styrofoam. Inside the latest version you'll find an office chair, a keyboard and a steering wheel recycled from a keke na pep [tricycle].

He spends hours refining prototypes of the car, hoping that one day he will make it fly.

"We want the whole world to know it is possible to have a kind of machine that can move on land, on sea and fly and perhaps move under the sea," he explained. "That's my ultimate goal."

Source: The Nigerian inventor building a flying jet car