Dubai to test autonomous air taxis

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority is due to begin testing an electric flying taxi service in the emirate using German-built multicopter drones capable of vertical take-off and landing

VOLOCOPTER 2X: 18 rotors configured to generate lift without causing vehicle to spin. Manoeuvres achieved by altering speed of individual rotors

Cabin: Glazed doors and leather seats. Room for pilot and one passenger
Overall height: 2.15m
Power: 18 electric motors driven by nine independent batteries.
Flight time on singlecharge: 27 minutes
Charging time: 40 minutes*


Safety: Multiple redundancy in criticalcomponents. Full aircraft parachuteallows safe descent in emergency

*Using fast charger. Maximum time 120 mins

Rotor diameter 1.8m
1.25m
Rotor ring diameter 7.35m

SPECIFICATIONS – VOLOCOPTER 2X
Maximum take-off weight 450kg
Maximum payload 160kg
Maximum speed 100km/h
Rate of climb 3m/sec
Service ceiling 2,000m

Control: Flights carry passengers on predetermined routes. Vehicle caneither fly autonomously or be pilotedusing joystick and touch-screen.Human pilot will control test flights

Sources: Volocopter, Smithsonian Magazine
Picture: Twitter