Uber Is Researching a New Vertical-Takeoff Ride Offering That Flies You Around (recode.net)

If Uber's recently launched self-driving cars surprised you, wait for the company's "flying" vehicles. Speaking with Recode, Uber's head of products said the company is research small planes that can vertically take off and land, so that they can be used for short-haul flights in cities. From the report:The technology is called VTOL -- which stands for vertical takeoff and landing. Simply put, VTOL is an aircraft that can hover, take off and land vertically, which would also describe a helicopter. But, unlike the typical helicopter, these planes have multiple rotors, could have fixed wings and perhaps eventually would use batteries and be more silent. In time, like cars, such aircraft would be autonomous. Jeff Holden said that he has been researching the area, "so we can someday offer our customers as many options as possible to move around." He added that "doing it in a three-dimensional way is an obvious thing to look at."

Comments

Re:So,

[Waffle Iron]

Didn't they already try this in the US but got shot down by the FAA

It wasn't the FAA; It was some guy in Kentucky.

Re:Hope the technology has come a long way

[The-Ixian]

Look... a 5 ounce drone couldn't possibly lift a 1 pound cocoanut... it's a simple matter of weight ratios...