are flying taxis about to become a reality? - electrical energy storage systems

(CNN)—
A flying taxi lifts you up from traffic and speeds you up to your destination is a tempting prospect ---
But are we closer to it becoming a reality?
A recent breakthrough in Britain
S. -based companies have built and driven an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
Planned ride-
With the emergence of a new fleet of private aircraft, Uber, the taxi-hailing app, is also pushing forward in full swing. some experts believe that, the ambition to launch an air taxi in three or four years is likely to achieve if not necessarily affordable.
The British vertical aerospace company, after obtaining the flight permission of the British Civil Aviation Authority, completed the test flight of the unmanned prototype in June 2018.
A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft weighing 750 is designed, manufactured and flown in just 12 months.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO of Aerospace Energy, was founded in 2016. vertical Aerospace aims to completely change the way people fly by providing personal, on-demand and carbon emissions.
Free air travel between different cities.
"The number of passengers on short flights has surged in recent years, but as a result aviation is now a major contributor to climate change and local air pollution," said Stephen Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of the company
"We want air travel to go CO2, allowing people the freedom to fly directly to their destinations from their local neighbors.
"Leveraging the technology used in f1 racing, it aims to launch VTOL services on UK-specific intercity routes over the next four years.
"Lightweight materials, aerodynamics and electrical systems developed through F1 are very suitable for aircraft and are more applicable than road transportation," added Fitzpatrick . ".
"By handing over these technologies to experienced aerospace engineers, we can make cutting-edge aircraft in the 21 st century.
"Of course, the air taxi program has been in place for several years and Uber is the main driver. The ride-
At the annual Uber Elevate Summit in May 2018, the taxi-hailing giant revealed new details about its electric taxi network.
The system will see that passengers can hop on the elevator and reach the nearest vertiport by simply opening an app and clicking a button.
From here, the waiting UberAIR will take them to their chosen destination.
Uber has decided to be in Los Angeles, Dallas and the third-yet-
By 2023, in international cities that have not yet been identified, the first aircraft will be tested as early as 2020 times.
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The generated image may be UberAir riding.
"They are tough targets, but we think it's important to drive excellence," said Eric Alison, Uber's aviation director . ".
"The 2020 date requires our partners to manufacture vehicles that we can use in an experimental environment and to demonstrate key metrics such as noise, range and battery power.
"So far, Uber has been pursuing a world band --
Aerospace partners such as NASA have designed vertical takeoff and landing networks for their air traffic control systems and several aircraft manufacturers--VTOL --
Models including Pipistrel Aircraft, Bell helicopters, Boeing's Aurora Flight Science, Karem Aircraft, Corgan and Embraer.
Uber's first VTOL design was revealed at the May summit, and each design was aesthetically different from each other, but insisted on the same measures, including safety, energy storage, low noise, payload and emissions.
In addition to the core five manufacturers, the idea is that other companies will create their own VTOL iterations based on the model designed by Uber.
At present, more than 70 manufacturers are developing VTOL designs for Uber networks.
The basic requirements of the Uber model determine that VTOLs can cruise at a speed of 150 to 200 miles per hour at a height of 1,000 to 2,000 feet kilometers, and the battery life can reach up to 60 miles before charging is needed.
Initially, the plane will be driven by commercial pilots, and Uber hopes the pilots will be drawn to a promise closer to home, but then ---say a 10-to 20-
Annual transition period--
Plans to make the plane a pilot-free.
Connected to the network will be Uber's vertiport, converted to unused roofs and existing helipad and equipped with power points when passengers board and disembark on a round trip,
Uber says they need to handle more than 4,000 passengers in three hours
The footprint of the acres can also be used to serve concerts, festivals and green spaces.
Relevant content these are the most popular private jet destinations, overseeing the skier image of the VTOL model proposed by Corgan, which was presented during the Uber Elevate Summit.
Uber's expertise in developing airspace management models is still green.
NASA is more qualified in this field, the agency has cooperated
Two space bill agreements have been signed with Uber to develop air transport systems in urban areas.
"Working with NASA centered on simulating air traffic control capabilities, using their unique data access and experience to manage a large number of these vehicles, showing how different systems are integrated together, "Alison said.
NASA says it wants to ensure that the integration of these small aircraft does not put pressure on the current air traffic control system.
The data provided by Uber will help manage this, simulate the conditions of scheduled air traffic at peak times, and draw on the low
High altitude traffic management and systems-
It is very safe to design an effective system.
The first aircraft will be tested in 2020 to reduce driving costs.
But is the price affordable?
Experts are skeptical, but Allison insists that electricity can be used to lower prices.
"The cost of operating a helicopter per mile is about $9, and we think that as long as power propulsion technology is applied, the cost per mile can be reduced to more than $5, which is probably equivalent to Uber's black Price [
The company's luxury proposition]," he explains.
Uber says it will also be able to attract passengers as much as it does on the ground, so costs can be shared among the four passengers on the plane.
This reduces the cost of passenger mileage to the price of Uber X (a four-Passenger car).
Alison added that in the long run, self
Driving technology, and the mass production of these aircraft, may drive down prices to the point where UberAIR as your traditional mode of transport may be cheaper than having a car. For the many?
Despite Uber's efforts to emulate its ground model in the air, some people suspect air travel --
Shared services like this can be affordable.
Alan Lewis, general manager of strategic consulting firm L. said: "There is no huge VTOLs installation base to support this model, just like a car, so any model requires dedicated assets . "E. K.
"These will also be expensive assets, not only for purchases, but also for maintaining high levels of reliability and use.
"In order to support these new cars, parking, repairs, refueling are required to be built, all of which add to the cost.
Lewis also noted that the labor costs of VTOL pilots could also be prohibitive.
"We are already in serious pilot shortages worldwide.
This is not the skill that a typical adult has, just like driving a car, he added: "It's hard to imagine such a pattern, in which, pilots of such vehicles can be paid more than commercial pilots. ".
"At certain prices, models like this may exist, and in fact, in places like Manila, people have used helicopters to cross the city to avoid traffic.
But this is the service of the super rich.
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Leaving aside Uber Pickard Chilton ArupCost, another key obstacle is regulation, which is regulated by the FAA for US cities (FAA).
Dan Elwell, acting administrator at FAA, explained at the summit: "This will be a challenge because we have to be ahead of the security side . ".
"The technology in this industry is moving faster than anything we have to deal with before, and we can't move at that pace.
He added: "However, the data collected through the pilot project will help answer key questions about security and policy.
"We are going through the drone certification process today.
So I don't think 2023 will be too ambitious, but I certainly won't make any promises.
"In the process of vertical aerospace efforts to achieve technological progress, safety is also a major concern.
"Aviation is one of the most complex and regulated industries in the world --
There are good reasons.
"Safety is, and should be, the top priority," added Fitzpatrick . ".
"Our first eVTOL aircraft was licensed for flight from the CAA and we have partnered with EASA to get model certification for our next model.
"Regulation develops with the development of new technologies, but it takes time.
We worked with regulators throughout the process.
"Historically, the FAA has supervised new aircraft for up to 10 years.
According to Elwell, this is largely because the pace of industrial development is just as long.
But not now.
"We want to certify these aircraft and we want to do so as soon as possible as the technical requirements," he said . ".
"I believe that the industry will not only bring innovative ideas, but also security solutions that make it easier for us.
"More importantly, the current US government may be the trump card for Uber.
"I have never seen a more optimistic government put technology first in my career," Elwell said . ".
"I have never spoken to so many people --
Committed to people who match the pace of innovation in the industry.
"You have more top-down commitment to bringing these technologies into a viable life than I have ever seen.