Tech
NASA teams up with Uber to produce flying taxis of the future
American space agency NASA and Uber have joined forces in a project which could lead to the creation of a super-advanced new taxi.
The pair signed an agreement which will see them explore concepts and technologies needed for passenger and cargo air transportation within an urban area.
This is Uber’s second agreement with the space agency. As part of the pact, the ride-hailing company will share data related to its efforts to build flying taxis in 2020 for the development of NASA’s urban air mobility (UAM) program.
Read also: Apple confirms serious problem with iPhone X
‘Using data from Uber, NASA will use its research facility at the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) airport to simulate a small passenger-carrying aircraft as it flies through DFW airspace during peak scheduled air traffic, and analyze if these operations would trigger traffic collision advisories,’ Uber said in a statement.
On Tuesday, also released a new prototype for flying taxies at its annual Elevate Summit and announced plans to work with the U.S. Army to advance research on a novel, quiet aircraft rotor technology that could be used in future flying cars, or military aircraft.
Uber and the Army’s Research, Development and Engineering command expect to spend $1 million to develop and test prototypes for a rotor system that would be used on a vertical take-off for landing vehicles.
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