New autonomous flying car revealed in NZ
New Zealand set to adopt pilotless air taxis as Kitty Hawk Cora electric personal drone takes offThe idea of AI-controlled, autonomous flying cars and personal electric drone transport may seem like a science-fiction dream when you're stuck in bump-and-grind peak-hour traffic, but New Zealand has taken a big step towards certifying autonomous aircraft.
According to the New York Times, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern is set to confirm new regulations that will allow for the testing of autonomous flying cars, just like the Kitty Hawk Cora launched in NZ this week.
Financed by Google founder Larry Page, California-based company Kitty Hawk has been developing its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft for around eight years and covertly testing the Cora in New Zealand's South Island near Canterbury since late 2017.
The Kitty Hawk Cora pilotless flying taxi is being operated by NZ aerospace company Zephyr Airworks, and could form the world's first fleet of autonomous personal drones in three years, says the US company.
The Cora is a two-passenger EV with a range of about 100km and can reach speeds of up to 180km/h. Importantly, it can take off and land like a helicopter, so large runways are not a requirement. And because it's autonomous, no pilot's licence is required.
Kitty Hawk has is also working on an Uber-like app that would allow customers to hail one of its flying taxis.
In an email seen by the New York Times, the NZ PM said the country’s new regulations allowing autonomous flying car testing is "…about sending the message to the world that our doors are open for people with great ideas who want to turn them into reality”.
There are other countries actively pushing flying taxi services, including the United Arab Emirates, where Dubai was one of the first cities to officially test an autonomous personal drone, back in September 2017.
Audi, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz have all confirmed they are working on flying cars, which could employ similar AI and camera/sensor technology to their upcoming autonomous road vehicles.
Uber has a flying car department promising air taxis by 2020 and even European aircraft giant Airbus is working on a personal VTOL vehicle.
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