The new Zealand startup Kitty Hawk, which is a co-founder of Google and head of Google, Larry page, began testing its Autonomous flying taxi Cora, according to local new Zealand newspaper New Zealand Herald. The vehicle can ascend and land vertically like a helicopter and fly like a plane. The development project lasted for eight years. To release the device to market is planned for 6 years.
“These tests allow us to consider future options for transport, which can have far-reaching benefits for the daily commute and can even support our growing tourism market,” — said the head of the administration of Christchurch, which are being tested, Joanna Norris.
The company has published a video flight of the future taxi.
“We offer a non-polluting vehicle that flies autonomously,” commented the beginning of the test head of Kitty Hawk in New Zealand Fred Reid in a video on the company website.
According to the newspaper New Zealand Herald, taxi electric motor, and therefore safe for the environment. The apparatus is able to carry two passengers at speeds up to 150-180 kilometers per hour at altitudes from 150 meters to 900 meters. The movement range without recharging is 100 kilometers. Vertical takeoff is provided by 12 of the starting engine, and moving in the air – thanks to one of the sustainer engine.
Flying vehicle equipped with three on-Board computers involved in the miscalculations of navigation. Even if one of them fails, the other will take over for him. In the most extreme case Cora provided the parachute that will allow you to land even at the idle screws.
It is expected that Cora will be part of the transport system and will be sold to businesses and fleets, not individual people.
In New Zealand tested the flying taxi
Nikolai Khizhnyak