The “Vahana” project has been unveiled, which aims to create a fleet of autonomous aircraft, CityAirbus, by 2020 for mobility within metropolises for people and goods
What will be the future of mobility? It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves more and more lately. Shared cars, hybrids and self-driving cars. These are the most common answers. Airbus, on the other hand, has thought of something exceptional: a fleet of flying cabs entirely managed by an artificial intelligence pilot.
Airbus has presented the details of its project called “Vahana”. It is a fleet of flying cabs that the user will be able to call with an app, Uber-style. The first tests will begin by the end of this year thanks to a full-size prototype. While the first demonstration flight is scheduled for 2020. The project involves the creation of automated aircraft to transport goods and passengers. From Airbus, they let it be known that the vehicles made through the “Vahana” project will be able to detect and avoid obstacles and other aircraft automatically. Landing and takeoff will be done vertically in helicopter style.
Features of the flying taxis
According to CNN Money reports, the flying cabs will be shaped like a small, futuristic and stylized helicopter. There will be room for only one passenger at a time and the seat will open thanks to a protective opening glass. The two small rear wings will each have four electric motors. The biggest challenge will be building batteries and hybrid motors that can make travel possible. However, Airbus is convinced that all over the world these solutions will have an increasing demand and thanks to some sponsors, some that it has already found, it is sure that it will be able to conclude the project by 2020. Per ora è certo che le soluzioni per i passeggeri si chiameranno CityAirbus.
Progetto “Skyways”
Airbus punta molto sulle soluzioni per le metropoli del futuro e vuole sfruttare l’aria in ogni modo per ridurre il traffico a terra. In questo senso oltre al progetto “Vahana” ha anche pensato a un altro progetto chiamato “Skyways”. Si tratta di una flotta di droni per la consegna di pacchi, documenti e piccoli oggetti. In particolar modo è una soluzione pensata per città con grandi porti o aeroporti e stazioni merci a livello internazionale. Questo dovrebbe smaltire in maniera significativa la gestione delle merci tra i vari poli della città.
Fonte foto: Airbus
Airbus ha anche progettato l’aereo del futuro: modulare, consentirà di di cambiare le sezioni interne degli aerei nel giro di pochi minuti.