BOEING’S self-driving FLYING taxis are set to hit the skies by 2030 in a revolutionary tech move.
They will be able to reach a top speed of 110mph and transport passengers as the ambitious plans will soon bring our futuristic dreams into reality.
Boeing thinks that by 2030, technology from its subsidiary Wisk Aero will help alleviate traffic congestion in the United States.
Wisk Aero aims to revolutionise urban transportation by providing safe, efficient, and eco-friendly aerial mobility options.
The company’s CEO, Brian Yutko, said on Monday that the pilotless air-taxi are expected to begin carrying passengers “later in the decade” as it works with the US regulator to secure approvals.
“We are right now testing and producing the elements of this aircraft that we will hope to fly around the end of this year,” he said.
Yutko announced the designs for the flying taxis during the Farnborough Airshow, which took place in the UK this week.
But the CEO’s grand promises were made amid challenges in the flying taxi sector, including the need to build stronger batteries that will allow businesses to operate for several flights on a single charge.
They also must persuade the public and authorities that the aircraft is safe, which is much harder to do when the aircraft is autonomous.
Wisk is advancing its sixth-generation aircraft, which is capable of transporting up to four passengers along with their luggage.
This highly advanced air taxi, known as Generation 6, integrates top-tier safety systems from commercial aviation, leading autonomous technology and software, continuous human oversight for every flight, and an efficient design.
The eVTOL has a range of 90 miles (144 km) per charge, including reserves, and can maintain a cruising speed of 120 knots (138 mph/222 kph) at altitudes ranging from 2,500 to 4,000 feet (762 to 1,220 meters).
With a wingspan of 50 feet (15 meters), it features 12 propellers for takeoff, with the front row tilting for forward propulsion during horizontal flight.
During cruising, the four-bladed rear propellers deactivate and lock to minimise drag, while the larger front propellers have been updated to include five blades.
The wings and booms have also been raised above the passenger compartment to improve safety and minimise noise.
Wisk says the eVTOL is intended to fly autonomously utilising “logic-driven, procedural-based, decision-making software,” an array of onboard sensors, and obstacle-avoidance capabilities.
Wisk’s strategy is a departure from other major air-taxi makers, which are developing models that will require a pilot to fly the aircraft. The company has said operators of its aircraft will save on pilot costs.
But industry experts at Bain say a full autonomous passenger flight is not expected before the late 2030s and pilotless aircraft will face competition from autonomous vehicles on the road.
“Maximising passenger occupancy and avoiding return trips with empty aircraft will be crucial for operator profitability,” said Mattia Celli, one of the authors of the Bain report.
Mountain View, California-based Wisk was previously a joint venture between Boeing (BA.N), and Kitty Hawk Corp.
It became a fully-owned subsidiary of the US planemaker last year.
THE global race for flying taxis, or urban air mobility (UAM), is highly competitive, with numerous companies developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and related technologies.
The competition is driving rapid advancements in the field, with many of these players aiming to launch commercial operations within the next few years.
As well as Wisk Aero, here are some of the prominent players in this space:
JOBY AVIATION – Santa Cruz, California, USA: Joby Aviation is one of the leading companies in the eVTOL space. It has received significant investment from Toyota and has partnered with Uber. Joby aims to launch an aerial ridesharing service.
VOLOCOPTER – Bruchsal, Germany: Volocopter develops electric helicopters designed for urban air mobility. The Volocopter 2X and VoloCity are their flagship models. The company has conducted test flights in various cities, including Singapore and Dubai.
LILIUM – Munich, Germany: Lilium is developing the Lilium Jet, a five-seat eVTOL aircraft. The company aims to create a regional air mobility network. Lilium has raised substantial funding and has conducted several successful test flights.
ARCHER AVIATION – Palo Alto, California, USA: Archer is focused on developing a fully electric air taxi. The company has a partnership with United Airlines and plans to launch commercial operations by 2024.
EHANG – Guangzhou, China: EHang develops autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) for passenger and logistics transportation. The EHang 216 is a notable model that has been tested in various cities worldwide.
EMBRAERX (EVE AIR MOBILITY) – São José dos Campos, Brazil: Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Embraer, is developing eVTOL aircraft and urban air traffic management solutions. The company aims to leverage Embraer’s aerospace expertise to advance UAM.
HYUNDAI URBAN AIR MOBILITY (SUPERNAL) – South Korea / USA: Hyundai is actively developing eVTOL aircraft through its Supernal division. The company envisions integrating air taxis into urban transportation networks.
BELL TEXTRON – Fort Worth, Texas, USA: Bell is developing the Nexus 4EX, an eVTOL aircraft designed for urban air mobility. Bell has a long history in helicopter manufacturing and aims to apply this expertise to the UAM sector.
