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Uber to launch flying taxi service by 2020

By T.K. Randall
November 9, 2017 · Comment icon 11 comments

Will we one day be heading to work in one of these ? Image Credit: Uber
The ride-hailing giant is reportedly working with NASA to develop a traffic signal system for flying cars.
In a press release, Uber explained that the endeavour is part of the company's "vision to enable customers in the future to push a button and get a high-speed flight in and around cities."

The firm's futuristic flying taxi service is expected to be launched in Los Angeles by the year 2020.

"Technology will allow LA residents to literally fly over the city's historically bad traffic," said Uber Chief Product Officer Jeff Holden.
Not everyone however is convinced that flying taxis will revolutionize transportation.

"Flying autonomous vehicle technology is developing rapidly, but it's likely to be more disruptive than transformational," said technology research analysts Kimberly Harris-Ferrante and Michael Ramsey.

"High costs, safety concerns and regulatory burdens are likely to limit the use of this overhyped technology."



Source: Independent | Comments (11)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #2 Posted by Manfred von Dreidecker 7 years ago
Note that the story is actually about "a traffic signal system", whatever that might mean, "for flying cars", (traffic lights suspended from balloons?), not that Über themselves* , which is essentially just a minicab firm isn't it really, are developing a flying car. Classic piece of misleading self-promotion by these Silicon Valley Tech Giants. * I insist on the umlaut 
Comment icon #3 Posted by third_eye 7 years ago
" Mornin' folks ... ready to take a ride with Crazy Flap Jack ? Howabout a couple of vertical donuts to settle the nerves eh ? " ~
Comment icon #4 Posted by The Russian Hare 7 years ago
You won't be able to just land on the sidewalk. Presumably you will have to land on designated space either tall building, or open field. I think it will happen but remain limited.
Comment icon #5 Posted by South Alabam 7 years ago
No doubt. I personally believe it might be viable way in the future, but 2020 is pushing it. First fatal crash will result in litigation that will not make this economical.
Comment icon #6 Posted by _KB_ 7 years ago
Wow... the only problem is that i'm too cheap for a normal taxi so there's no way in hell i'm paying for a ride on a flying one
Comment icon #7 Posted by paperdyer 7 years ago
This is definitely A Bullwinkle J. Moose idea.  Wyle E. Coyote later known a Wylie Coyote as well.
Comment icon #8 Posted by paperdyer 7 years ago
I see it now.  There's an accident one air expressway 1.  OOPS make that now on Route 95.
Comment icon #9 Posted by Chaldon 7 years ago
Every revolution begins with scruples, scorn and failures. Then follows the hype settling down and when the real thing pops up later again, this time sturdy and working great, everyone says it's cool. It's masses thinking. Every cool technology went through that.
Comment icon #10 Posted by South Alabam 7 years ago
I agree, but it took the Osprey years of fatal crashes before the bugs got worked out. So for this taxi to be operational by 2020 just doesn't seem doable to me, however technology has increased, so we'll see.
Comment icon #11 Posted by Calibeliever 7 years ago
It always seemed to me that the trickiest part about flying cars would be keeping them from running into one another over major metropolitan areas and raining fiery debris down on us peasants.


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