The world’s first self-flying taxi was launched at the Jumeirah Beach Park in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 26 September 2017.
The Autonomous Air Taxi (AAT) of Dubai was the brainchild of Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA).
According to Dubai Media Office, the two-seater AAT, capable of
transporting people without human intervention or a pilot, has been
supplied by Volocopter, a Germany-based specialist manufacturer of
automated air vehicles.
The AAT, expected to be put into use in the fourth quarter, is powered
by electricity and is highly safe. Its design comprises 18 rotors to
ensure secure cruising and landing in case of any rotor failure, said
RTA.
“It is environment-friendly as it is powered by clean electricity, and
it has very little noise. It has a maximum flight time of approximately
30 minutes at a speed of 50 km per hour, and a maximum air speed of 100
km per hour,” according to RTA.
“After the remarkable success of the first driverless metro in the
region, we are glad to witness today the test flight of the Autonomous
Air Taxi,” said Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al-Maktoum.
“This is another proof of our commitment to positive change. We are
constantly exploring opportunities to serve the community and advance
the prosperity and happiness of society,” he added. (NAN)
