Uber and NASA have partnered to develop an electric aircraft taxi that is set to introduce the flying on-demand ridesharing service 'UberAIR.'
The low-flying aircraft has been specifically developed for use in urban environments and has the potential to replace cars with aircraft that is environmentally friendly. The Vertical Take-off and Landing aircrafts (VTOLs) have the ability to carry four passengers and according to Uber's Jeff Holden, "UberAIR will be performing far more flights over cities on a daily basis than has ever been done before."
Testing is set to begin on UberAir as of 2020 in Los Angeles—a city that is known for its traffic—followed by Dallas, Fort Worth and Frisco. The introduction of UberAIR calls for the development of new infrastructure, as well as changes to airspace management technology. Uber and NASA hope to see the service fully implemented in Los Angeles, as it will be hosting the Olympics in 2028.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Electric Aircraft Taxi
- As electric vehicles are becoming more popular, developing an electric aircraft taxi can offer disruptive innovation opportunities in the transportation and aerospace industries.
- Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircrafts
- VTOLs have the potential to revolutionize urban transportation, creating disruptive innovation opportunities in the transportation, aerospace, and infrastructure industries.
- On-demand Ridesharing Services
- Expanding on-demand ridesharing services to the air can offer disruptive innovation opportunities in the transportation and aerospace industries.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Transportation
- Developing electric aircraft taxis and expanding on-demand ridesharing services to the air can offer disruptive innovation opportunities in the transportation industry.
- Aerospace
- VTOLs have the potential to revolutionize urban transportation and on-demand ridesharing services, offering disruptive innovation opportunities in the aerospace industry.
- Infrastructure
- The introduction of flying rideshare services calls for the development of new infrastructure, offering disruptive innovation opportunities in the infrastructure industry.
