Realization Within a Decade?

Imagine an autonomous electric vehicle picking you up at home, taking you to a drone port, and then lifting off towards your destination. Audi, Airbus, and Italdesign are collaborating on this dream-like 'flying taxi' concept.

The first public test of this flying taxi was conducted at Amsterdam's 'Drone Week'.

The prototype presented was a 1/4 scale model of the 'Pop.Up Next'. A drone carrying the passenger capsule precisely landed on the electric vehicle, detached the capsule, and handed it over. The EV, now connected to the capsule, drove off from the venue autonomously, marking a successful test.

Dr. Bernd Martens, Audi Board Member and President of Italdesign, commented, "As autonomous driving becomes a reality, more people will choose to travel by car. In the future, the elderly, children, and those without a driver's license will utilize convenient robot taxis. The ability to seamlessly transition between road and air will benefit not only people but also cities."

The next step involves flight and driving tests of a full-scale prototype. Audi predicts that an efficient flying taxi service, utilizing both road and air, could be operational in major cities within the next decade.

Traveling from home to your destination using both land and air, without any transfers. Such a dream-like mode of transport may be closer than we think.