Welcome to my new series, Your Future Today, focusing on the futuristic technologies being developed or used today. In this article, I will be looking at the development of flying cars and how we could all fly rather than drive.
Introduction
Going back to 1885, the world was shocked when the first ‘horseless carriage’ took to the streets for what the newspapers called its first public outing. Nobody could have imagined the leaps and strides technology would make in the years to come. It’s clear to see that the advancements made in transportation have exceeded expectations with inventions such as the hovercraft and rockets. Despite all this, we still look to the future wondering what will come next. In this post of Your Future Today we will be looking at how the modern day car may one day become a thing of the past.
Take to the skies
In Japan, SkyDrive has started to take the abilities of the modern day vehicle to the next level. The company began in July 2018 and is known for its cargo drone, used to safely transport heavy materials to areas unreachable by traditional transport. So what’s next?
On 26 September 2022 SkyDrive unveiled its design for a commercial model flying car. This prototype is a two-seat, electric powered aircraft with the capability of a vertical take-off and landing.
The small and lightweight design of the vehicle increases its usability across a multitude of fields. The vehicle itself is designed to ascend to a maximum height of 10,000 metres, and can travel over 60mph – with the added benefit of having zero emissions. Could this be the next step towards a future of flying?
The potentials are endless
In September 2021, SkyDrive signed a partnership with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City to advance the practical use of flying cars. The goal is to implement a taxi service in Osaka Bay, Japan, for use during Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. Through this SkyDrive hopes to demonstrate the practical application of these vehicles and increase the social acceptance of flying cars within the Osaka Bay area.
In addition to a taxi service, there are many potentials for this type of vehicle including: an alternative mode of transport for day-to-day life; travel access to remote areas that are currently inaccessible to the public; an emergency medical vehicle that is capable of landing in a garden or a driveway.
What’s next?
The future of the flying car is uncertain, however SkyDrive is striving to make this a reality with flying cars being available to the public by 2050.
SkyDrive has released a timeline for this, outlining the development stages:
2025 – SD-05 commercial model scheduled for launch
2030 and beyond – Autonomous operation of flying cars begins
2050 – The SD-XX makes driving in the sky accessible to everyone
Already working towards their next milestones through its plans at Osaka Bay in 2025, SkyDrive is well on its way to making this vision come true.
Conclusion
A lot has changed since 1885 and technology has improved drastically from the first ‘horseless carriage’. Could this be the first step towards flying rather than driving? Could SkyDrive deliver the world’s first flying automobile in 2025? We’ll have to wait and see…
I’ll be back with another post soon!
Jess
