Uber and the US Army Have Partnered on Flying Car Technology
Ride-hailing giant Uber and the U.S. Army have agreed to develop and test technology used for “flying taxis” and military applications.
Announced at the Uber Elevate Summit in Los Angeles, the partnership with the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) includes a $1-million, equally split investment. It will finance the development of the yet-to-be-named, “quiet” vertical-takeoff-and-landing rotor system with two software-controlled, co-rotating propellers for use as a “flying taxi” capable of short and long-distance runs.
“Uber is proud to be partnering with ARL on critical research on flying vehicle innovations that will help create the world’s first urban aviation rideshare network,” said Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate.
“Our first jointly funded project will help us develop first of its kind rotor technology that will allow for quieter and more efficient travel. We see this initial project as the first of many and look forward to continued collaboration with the lab on innovations that will make uberAIR a reality.”
SEE ALSO: 1 in 4 Americans Say They’d Never Use an Autonomous Vehicle
With regards to landing infrastructure, the firm has discussed city rooftops as “sky ports,” flying between 1,000 to 2,000 feet altitude.
Another partner in the project is California-based Launchpoint Technologies, an electric and hybrid aircraft firm that will assist in designing and building the flying aircraft’s electric motors. This partnership also expands on Uber’s existing agreement with another governmental agency, NASA, to develop flying fleet management software.
Uber plans to launch demonstration flights in 2020 with service launch by 2023.
Exciting news! @Uber and the #USArmy just announced a new partnership and research agreement establishing an ongoing plan to partner around developing and testing the vehicles used in Uber’s proposed urban aviation rideshare network. #FutureFocused https://t.co/9o4FnEDYON pic.twitter.com/Z6elpesdhv
— US Army Research Lab (@ArmyResearchLab) May 8, 2018
A version of this story originally appeared on Hybrid Cars.