{"id":14266,"date":"2017-04-25T16:16:31","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T20:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=14266"},"modified":"2017-04-25T16:38:16","modified_gmt":"2017-04-25T20:38:16","slug":"sci-tech-uber-unveils-electric-vtol-flying-taxi-service-to-startin-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=14266","title":{"rendered":"Sci-Tech: Uber unveils electric VTOL flying taxi service to start in 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>And now <a href=\"http:\/\/www.uber.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Uber<\/a> unveils its prototype electric vertical takoff and and landing (eVTOL) vehicle for a flying taxi service that it will begin testing in Dallas and Dubai in 2020. The vehicle is being developed in partnership with\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aurora.aero\/\" target=\"_d\">Aurora Flight Sciences<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bellhelicopter.com\/company\/innovation\" target=\"_d\">Bell Helicopter<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.embraer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embraer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BSFVvhQP7ws?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Announcements from the companies:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bellhelicopter.com\/company\/innovation\" target=\"_d\">Uber Elevate &#8211; Bell Helicopter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/aurora-unveils-new-evtol-aircraft-at-uber-elevate-summit-300445361.html\" target=\"_d\">Aurora Unveils New eVTOL Aircraft at Uber Elevate Summit &#8211; Aurora Flight Services<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/embraer-enters-innovation-partnership-with-uber-elevate-network-300445446.html\" target=\"_d\">Embraer Enters Innovation Partnership with Uber Elevate Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Aurora_eVTOL_Aircraft_First_Flight1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"14267\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=14267\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Aurora_eVTOL_Aircraft_First_Flight1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1599,1067\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Aurora Flight Sciences&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;First flight of Aurora&#039;s eVTOL aircraft on April 20, 2017. (PRNewsfoto\/Aurora Flight Sciences)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;This image must be used within the context of the news release it accompanied. Request permission from issuer for other uses.&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Aurora-eVTOL-Aircraft-First-Flight&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Aurora-eVTOL-Aircraft-First-Flight\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;First flight of Aurora&amp;#8217;s eVTOL aircraft on April 20, 2017. (PRNewsfoto\/Aurora Flight Sciences)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Aurora_eVTOL_Aircraft_First_Flight1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"size-large wp-image-14267\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Aurora_eVTOL_Aircraft_First_Flight1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Aurora_eVTOL_Aircraft_First_Flight1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Aurora_eVTOL_Aircraft_First_Flight1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Aurora_eVTOL_Aircraft_First_Flight1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Aurora_eVTOL_Aircraft_First_Flight1.jpg 1599w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><em>First flight of Aurora&#8217;s eVTOL aircraft on April 20, 2017.<br \/>\n(PRNewsfoto\/Aurora Flight Sciences)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>From the Aurora release:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Aurora&#8217;s eVTOL concept is derived from its XV-24A X-plane program currently underway for the U.S. Department of Defense and other autonomous aircraft the company has developed over the years. \u00a0Aurora has adapted and combined the autonomous flight guidance system from its Centaur optionally-piloted aircraft, the perception and collision avoidance system from the AACUS program, and the battery electric propulsion system from the XV-24A demonstrator to create the innovative eVTOL design.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>&#8220;The Uber Elevate mission is all about low noise, high reliability, and low cost,&#8221; said Aurora CEO <span class=\"xn-person\">John Langford<\/span>. &#8220;By drawing on our nearly 30 years of successful autonomy and robotic programs, Aurora is well positioned to deliver on this urban solution. We have already built and flown the first proof-of-concept aircraft and we&#8217;re excited to partner with Uber in accelerating the eVTOL initiative.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>The partnership agreement provides the basis for a system of urban transportation solutions that will enable users of the Uber Elevate Network to request an Aurora eVTOL aircraft via Uber&#8217;s computer or mobile software applications. With the successful first test flight of the aircraft on <span class=\"xn-chron\">April 20, 2017<\/span>, the goal of delivering 50 aircraft for testing by 2020 is well within reach.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Bell Helicopter background overview:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Uber will be working with\u00a0Bell Helicopter\u00a0as a collaborator to accelerate the eventual large-scale deployment of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (VTOLs) in order to fulfill its mission ofproviding a safe, reliable transportation service to everyone, everywhere.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Additional details include<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>\u00a0\u25cf\u00a0Uber plans to operate a network through which electric VTOL vehicles in numerous cities worldwide will provide transportation and delivery logistics services.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>\u25cf\u00a0Bell Helicopter plans to develop technologies that will lead to aircraft that satisfy short distance\u00a0urban operations. Bell\u2019s initial propulsion technology focus is expected to be hybrid electric with\u00a0an eventual goal of fully electric.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>\u25cf\u00a0Uber will participate in the development of airspace control software and hardware for themanagement of Pilot VTOLs on the Elevate Network, and provide interface connectivity with\u00a0airspace controllers\/regulators.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>\u25cf\u00a0Bell Helicopter is\u00a0an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and\u00a0unmanned vertical-lift aircraft and the pioneer of the\u00a0revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft.\u00a0Among otherprojects, Bell is exploring new opportunities in the future of air transportation with electric and hybrid VTOL aircraft.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A sample of articles:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fortune.com\/2017\/04\/25\/uber-flying-cars-chargepoint\/\" target=\"_d\">Uber Flying Cars: ChargePoint Develops Special Chargers | Fortune.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.geekwire.com\/2017\/uber-flying-car-2020-dallas-dubai\/\" target=\"_d\">Uber unveils flying-car team and aims for 2020 liftoff in Dubai and Dallas &#8211; Geekwire<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnet.com\/news\/uber-partners-with-dallas-and-dubai-to-usher-in-flying-cars\/\" target=\"_d\">Uber aims to get flying cars off the ground by 2020 &#8211; CNET<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Update<\/strong>: Here is a video of the Uber Elevate Summit conference presentations and panel discussions:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dlKuGhtNYlM?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>And now Uber unveils its prototype electric vertical takoff and and landing (eVTOL) vehicle for a flying taxi service that it will begin testing in Dallas and Dubai in 2020. The vehicle is being developed in partnership with\u00a0Aurora Flight Sciences, Bell Helicopter, and Embraer. Announcements from the companies: Uber Elevate &#8211; Bell Helicopter Aurora Unveils &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=14266\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Sci-Tech: Uber unveils electric VTOL flying taxi service to start in 2020<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science-and-technology"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-3I6","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15996,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=15996","url_meta":{"origin":14266,"position":0},"title":"Sci-Tech Videos: Uber Elevate Summit 2018 &#8211; Latest on eVTOL flying taxi technology","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Uber Elevate is Uber's program to support development of electric powered flying taxis that take off and land vertically. The second\u00a0Uber Elevate Summit\u00a0was held this week in Los Angeles and companies from around the world presented the status and plans for the vehicles. Infrastructure, regulatory issues, battery technology, electric power\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science and Technology&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Vtol-Concept-1-1024x576.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25094,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=25094","url_meta":{"origin":14266,"position":1},"title":"Tech: Test flights of eVTOL air taxis","author":"TopSpacer","date":"June 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I noticed a flurry of videos recently showing test flights of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. The three vehicles spotlighted below have sizable wings to enable longer range flights compared to eVTOL models intended for intra-city hops. Note that \"longer\" refers to a 100-250 km range. So they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science and Technology&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/QNl0DDUnp0E\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19941,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=19941","url_meta":{"origin":14266,"position":2},"title":"Technologies of interest &#8211; Oct.16.2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A sampling of recent items about new robotic and aviation technologies (previous tech posts): [ Update Oct.17: Vertical Aerospace in the UK debuts the Seraph eVTOL aircraft:\u00a0 World first: Vertical Aerospace flies electric air taxi capable of carrying 250kg - Vertical Aerospace The Seraph was built to test new technologies\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science and Technology&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"\/\/ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/e\/ir?t=hobbyspace&l=am2&o=1&a=1524742414","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16945,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16945","url_meta":{"origin":14266,"position":3},"title":"Sci-Tech: Volocopter to demo electric vertical take-off and landing air taxis in Singapore in 2019","author":"TopSpacer","date":"October 27, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I've posted here many times over the years about vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicles, particularly those derived from electric multi-rotor drone style technologies. There are dozens of companies developing such vehicles for personal and commercial transport services. Volocopter is one such company in Germany whose VTOL vehicle designs clearly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science and Technology&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/volocopter_singapore1-1024x554.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16770,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16770","url_meta":{"origin":14266,"position":4},"title":"Sci-Tech: Videos of Fly Astro Elroy and Metro Skyways CityHawk VTOL vehicles","author":"TopSpacer","date":"September 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"***\u00a0Fly Astro\u00a0is developing\u00a0Elroy (previously called \"Passenger Drone\"), another electrically powered Vertical-Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicle making flight look easy: https:\/\/youtu.be\/V3pi4HfQ0Gc More at\u00a0Transport Canada grants Astro Aerospace SFOC for flight testing of their passenger drone, \u201cElroy\u201d. OTC Markets:ASDN. *** Latest video for CityHawk\u00a0from Metro Skyways\u00a0and Urban Aero: https:\/\/youtu.be\/AHcsmMJA42w More at\u00a0CityHawk eVTOL\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science and Technology&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/V3pi4HfQ0Gc\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16393,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16393","url_meta":{"origin":14266,"position":5},"title":"Sci-Tech: VTOL vehicles from Opener, Kitty Hawk, and Aston Martin","author":"TopSpacer","date":"July 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The\u00a0BlackFly vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) craft is not a concept but has actually flown over \"1,000+ flights and 10,000+ miles\": The Silicon Valley based company\u00a0Opener\u00a0has been developing the vehicle since 2011. BlackFly is simple to master and requires no formal licensing (in USA) or special skills to operate safely.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Science and Technology&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Science and Technology","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/opener-marcus-flight.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14266"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14273,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14266\/revisions\/14273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}