Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Tuesday 3 OcTOber 2017
Dubai dreams of flying taxis darting among its skyscrapers

By JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emir-
ates (AP) — With a whirl-
ing buzz from 18 rotors, the
pilotless helicopter gently
lifted off the ground and
soared up into the after-
noon sky, the spire of the
world’s tallest building vis-
ible behind it.
The recent unmanned
flight by the German-made
electric Volocopter rep-
resents the latest step in
Dubai’s pursuit of flying tax-
is, which would not seem
out of place among the
Gulf city’s already futuristic
skyline — imagine “Blade
Runner,” with less rain.
Dubai already has invested
in another model of a fly-
ing, autonomous taxi, and
is working to design regu-
lations for their use. Putting
more passengers in the
air could free its already
clogged highways and
burnish the city’s cutting-
edge image of itself.
“It’s public transportation In this Sept. 26, 2017 photo, a Volocopter prototype flies in front of the two hotel towers during a test flight in Dubai, United Arab
for everybody, so you can Emirates. Dubai is hoping to one day have flying, pilotless taxis darting among its skyscrapers.
use, you can order it, you Associated Press
can pay for the trip and swapped in as needed. pilotless helicopter is just the head of the RTA, told hammed bin Rashid Al
the trip is not much more “I believe (the) urban air the beginning. Unpiloted a conference in February Maktoum, says he wants
expensive than with a car,” taxi will contribute an inter- passenger flights represent that the Chinese-made 25 percent of all passenger
said Alexander Zosel, Vo- esting addition to the exist- a new frontier for regula- EHang 184, a Volocopter trips in the city to be done
locopter’s co-founder. “If ing transportation modes,” tors. Dubai’s Road and competitor, would be regu- by driverless vehicles by
you build roads, you build Volocopter CEO Florian Transportation Authority, larly flying through the city’s 2030. The city has a deal
bridges, it’s a huge amount Reuter said. “There are which has invested an un- skies by July, though that in place with Los Angeles-
and it’s always much more certain routes that are just disclosed sum in Volocop- deadline came and went. based Hyperloop One
cheaper to have a system extremely beneficial if you ter, says it will work the next The RTA did not respond to to study the potential for
where you don’t need that can go to the third dimen- five years to come up with a request for comment. building a hyperloop line
infrastructure.” between it and Abu Dha-
Driving in Dubai already bi, the Emirati capital. That
makes one yearn for the technology has levitating
open skies. Rush hour on pods powered by electric-
Sheikh Zayed Road, a ity and magnetism hurtle
dozen-lane artery running through low-friction pipes
down the length of the city, at a top speed of 1,220 kph
alternates between dense (760 mph). For now, the
gridlock and sports-car sla- Volocopter’s brief flights
lom. Over 1.5 million Dubai- in Dubai drew VIP crowds
registered vehicles ply its and film crews making ad-
roads, not counting those vertisements. But its execu-
crowding in from the Unit- tives say after rules are in
ed Arab Emirates’ six other place, they will be ready for
sheikhdoms. The Volocop- mass production. Already,
ter’s designers envision the Volocopter has drawn
electric, battery-powered the interest of automobile
two-seat helicopters taking manufacturer Daimler AG,
off and landing from pads which was part of a con-
set up across the city. The sortium that put up $30 mil-
prototype used in Dubai In this Sept. 26, 2017 photo, a Volocopter prototype is being pushed by their operators before it lion in capital for Volocop-
has a maximum flying time sets for a test fly in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. Associated Press ter. Even Airbus, a major
of 30 minutes at 50 kph (31 airplane manufacturer, is
mph), with a maximum sion.” laws and develop safety Still, Dubai remains at the looking at building its own
airspeed of 100 kph (62 In practice, however, procedures. front of the pack when it flying taxis. “We’ve proven
mph). Batteries charged in there’s a long way to go. That’s a longer time frame comes to embracing new that it works,” Zosel said. “At
climate-controlled areas Convincing white-knuckled than initially offered by technology. the end of this five years,
near the pads would be flyers to get into a buzzing, Dubai. Mattar al-Tayer, Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mo- Dubai will be ready.”q