Saturday, March 25, 2017

Singapore in talks with firms to try out flying taxis

Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/singapore-talks-firms-try-out-flying-taxis
By Soon Weilun, soonwl@sph.com.sg, The Business Times, Thursday, 23 March 2017


Flying vehicles may just be a part of Singapore's transport network in the near future.
PHOTO: Flying vehicles may just be a part of Singapore's transport network in the near future. But human-carrying drones are not the only newfangled modes of transport to come to Singapore down the road - on-demand buses that ply dynamic routes may soon feature in Singapore's public bus network as well.
Picture posted by  Michael McDonald on 17 March 2017 at 12:00 PM CDT - Driverless Flying Taxis Are Coming To Dubai This Summer
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http://cdn.oilprice.com/a/img/content/article/718x300/d308d0394c6f62846681995415da6128.jpg
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Driverless-Flying-Taxis-Are-Coming-To-Dubai-This-Summer.html

 
Want to get back home at the end of the day in a levitating hovercraft?

Flying vehicles may just be a part of Singapore's transport network in the near future; in fact, the Ministry of Transport says that you can "bet your money" on it.

It has already taken initial steps to make it happen. The ministry's top official has told The Business Times that it is in talks with some companies to start trials on drones that can carry passengers.


Airbus to build flying autonomous taxis that soar over traffic
PHOTO: Airbus to build flying autonomous taxis that soar over traffic
If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in traffic, wishing you could just fly above the chaos, you might soon get your wish. Aeronautics giant Airbus has announced a new plan, dubbed “Project Vahana,” that would create a fleet of on-demand autonomous drones to carry passengers through the skies. And if that doesn’t sound crazy enough, the company says it could begin testing as soon as 2017....
Posted by Julie M. Rodriguez on 19 August 2016
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http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/08/Airbus-Vahana-Flying-Taxi-2.jpg
http://inhabitat.com/airbus-to-build-flying-autonomous-taxis-that-soar-over-traffic/airbus-vahana-flying-taxi-2/


But human-carrying drones are not the only newfangled modes of transport to come to Singapore down the road - on-demand buses that ply dynamic routes may soon feature in Singapore's public bus network as well.

These ideas were unveiled on Wednesday at the second Business Times Leaders' Forum, where the ministry gave an idea of its vision for urban mobility in 2030 Singapore.

Speaking to more than 400 participants, Permanent Secretary Pang Kin Keong listed some of the trends and technologies his ministry is looking at for Singapore's future transportation mix.


Airbus and Italdesign unveil modular urban land and air transport system.
PHOTO: Permanent Secretary Pang Kin Keong listed some of the trends and technologies his ministry is looking at for Singapore's future transportation mix.
Picture posted by Colin Payne on 17 March 2017 - Airbus and Italdesign unveil modular urban land and air transport system
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http://inhabitat.com/airbus-and-italdesign-unveil-modular-urban-land-and-air-transport-system/pop-up-10


Noting that the availability and affordability of data and the rise of artificial intelligence are already upending the transport sector globally, Mr Pang stressed, however, that Singapore's transport industry is up against land and manpower constraints.

These constraints and trends will result in a different transport landscape for Singapore by 2030, although trains will still continue to be the core of Singapore's public transport system, he said.

By 2030, there will be a rich and growing range of urban-mobility means.


Singapore's transport industry is up against land and manpower constraints.
PHOTO: Singapore's transport industry is up against land and manpower constraints. These constraints and trends will result in a different transport landscape for Singapore by 2030, although trains will still continue to be the core of Singapore's public transport system.
Picture posted by Lacy Cooke on 28 October 2016 - Uber is working on flying electric cars to disrupt transportation again
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http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2016/10/Joby-Flying-Cars.jpg
http://inhabitat.com/uber-is-working-on-flying-electric-cars-to-disrupt-transportation-again/joby-flying-cars/


Thus, rather than owning a mode of transport, it may be more sensible to pay for different mobility services tailored for different kinds of journeys.

Mr Pang said that it may thus be possible to ride in a driverless pod to work, cycle to the gym after work, and then take an aerial taxi home.


Mr Pang said that it may thus be possible to ride in a driverless pod to work, cycle to the gym after work, and then take an aerial taxi home.
PHOTO: Mr Pang said that it may thus be possible to ride in a driverless pod to work, cycle to the gym after work, and then take an aerial taxi home.
Picture posted by Colin Payne on 17 March 2017 - Airbus and Italdesign unveil modular urban land and air transport system
Showcasing what could be the future of human transportation, Airbus and Italdesign unveiled their Pop.Up concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show yesterday – a modular ground and air transport system. With the goal of tackling rush hour traffic around the world, the companies have essentially created a car paired with a drone that can swoop down, pick it up and transport passengers far above the traffic below.
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http://inhabitat.com/airbus-and-italdesign-unveil-modular-urban-land-and-air-transport-system/pop-up-1


"There is going to be a significant shift in the public mindset from one of ownership of transport assets - which is the mindset today - to one of procurement of transport services as and when you need them."

The convergence of land and air mobility can be a mobility option, he added, as he showcased images of three human-carrying drones that have already been prototyped.

They are the Hoversurf Scorpion by a Russian startup, the Volocopter VC200 from German company e-volo, and the Ehang 184 autonomous aerial vehicle from China.


Hoversurf Scorpion by a Russian startup, one of the three human-carrying drones that have already been prototyped.

PHOTO: Volocopter VC200 from German company e-volo, the next of the three human-carrying drones prototyped.
The world’s first certified Multicoptor, e-volo’s Volocopter VC200, premiered manned flights in Karlsruhe, Germany. Volocopter is designed to be a personal aerial vehicle, so easy and safe to fly, that anyone can do it.
And due to its electric propulsion it has no tailpipe emissions and is remarkably quiet.
Volocopter VC200 received the permit-to-fly as an ultralight aircraft from German aviation authorities in February 2016. In the context of the commenced test program, e-volo has started to conduct manned flights. The historic world premiere of a flight with a certified multicopter was made by e-volo managing director Alexander Zosel on March 30, 2016 on an airfield in Southern Germany. [2]
Picture posted by Ken Kaplan, Intel, Executive Editor
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http://iqglobal.intel.com/iq-content-library/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2016/04/volocopter.gif
https://iq.intel.com/could-your-next-uber-be-a-multicopter/


Ehang 184 autonomous aerial vehicle from China, the third but not the least of the three human-carrying drones prototyped.
PHOTO: Ehang 184 autonomous aerial vehicle from China, the third but not the least of the three human-carrying drones prototyped.
EHang 184 is an electric-powered vehicle which uses a four-rotor design. It is capable of carrying a passenger who weighs up to 100kg along with a small suitcase. Its top speed is 63 miles an hour and takes two hours to charge fully. It can even fly at 3,500 meters altitude. It will be used in Dubai and are driverless cars.
Picture posted by:Kshitij Patilon on 15 February 2017
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http://www.patilpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Dubai-driverless-cars-EHang-184-1024x604.png
http://www.patilpost.com/city-dubai-likely-get-driverless-flying-taxi-services-summer/


Dubai is already planning to fly the Ehang 184 as an aerial taxi as early as July.

"In 2030, you bet your money that aerial transport will also be a means of urban mobility," he said, but did not disclose further details beyond the ministry being in talks with some companies about putting human-carrying drones through tests.

While the contours of aerial transport in Singapore's network may still be hazy for now, a new form of service may take shape sooner.

Mr Pang said in his presentation that Singapore is looking at on-demand public bus services for areas with, and during hours of low ridership.


While the contours of aerial transport in Singapore's network may still be hazy for now, a new form of service may take shape sooner.
PHOTO: While the contours of aerial transport in Singapore's network may still be hazy for now, a new form of service may take shape sooner.
Picture posted by Kevin Lee on 04 March 2014 - Terrafugia is Working on Flying Autonomous Cars That Take Off and Land by Themse...
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http://inhabitat.com/terrafugia-is-looking-for-funding-to-launch-its-flying-car-in-2016/terrafugia-funding-flying-car/


This means that buses will ply low-ridership routes that are dynamic and responsive to riders' real-time demand during off-peak hours.

This can eliminate the problem of empty spaces on buses, which is a "terrible waste" of taxpayers' and commuters' money, he said.


Buses will ply low-ridership routes that are dynamic and responsive to riders' real-time demand during off-peak hours.

PHOTO: Buses will ply low-ridership routes that are dynamic and responsive to riders' real-time demand during off-peak hours. This can eliminate the problem of empty spaces on buses.
Picture posted by Marc Carter on 07 June 2014 - GF7 Flying Car Reaches 550 MPH in the Air, Then Turns into an Electric Car on th...
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Mr Pang told BT that the ministry is still developing the concept, "but probably will share something later this year".

The Transport Ministry is also stepping up its efforts to push for driverless buses. It has signed a partnership agreement with a party to build and put such buses through a trial, and will be signing another agreement quite soon, he said.


Mr Pang told BT that the ministry is still developing the concept
PHOTO: Mr Pang told BT that the ministry is still developing the concept, "but probably will share something later this year". The Transport Ministry is also stepping up its efforts to push for driverless buses.
Picture posted by Cliff Champion on 09 July 2011 = EU Invests $6.2 Million in Research to Develop Futuristic Flying Cars
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http://inhabitat.com/eu-invests-6-2-million-in-research-for-futuristic-personal-aircrafts/mycopter-personal-air-transportation2

By Soon Weilun, soonwl@sph.com.sg, The Business Times, Thursday, 23 March 2017



Reference
[1] Soon Weilun, The Business Times, Singapore in talks with firms to try out flying taxis, posted on Thursday, 23 March 2017 , http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/singapore-talks-firms-try-out-flying-taxis

[2] Impact Lab, Taxi drones take flight, posted on 09 May 2016 at 11:19 am, http://www.impactlab.net/2016/05/09/taxi-drones-take-flight/
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