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Despite considerable concerns about the safety of flying cars, two-thirds of Americans say they would like to ride in or operate their own airborne vehicle.
A new study by researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute shows that 41 percent of adult respondents to an online survey are "very interested" in riding in a fully autonomous (self-driving and self-flying) flying car. That compares to 26 percent of those who are "very interested" in operating the aerocar themselves after obtaining an appropriate pilot license.
"Until recently, flying cars have existed primarily in the realm of science fiction, although patents for such vehicles extend to the early years of aviation," said Michael Sivak, a research professor at UMTRI. "However, recently there has been a rapid increase in interest in flying cars from companies ranging from large, international manufacturers to a variety of startups.
"In addition to major technological, traffic-control and licensing issues that still will need to be addressed, a big unknown is what consumers think of the concept of flying cars, and what the desirable parameters are for such a novel approach to mobility."
We already had flying cars in the 70's. Some of them sported the Stars and Bars, others were driven by a man named Evel.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 21 2017, @11:01PM (1 child)
Let's see how "easy" when every fucking neighborhood is an "airport" on its own, with no air traffic control tower staffed with professionals.
Now, I'm not disagreeing with you about modern crafts with automated systems, but those work to the degree they do because the traffic in the air is sparse, and professional air traffic controllers manage the traffic. Imagine each household, each neighborhood, operate their own aircraft to get to work and come back.
(Score: 1) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday April 21 2017, @11:34PM
Id find it to be hilarious when they work around the problem by allowing only two-way corridors in and out of all takeoff/landing locations. Now you're back to square-one, except with an extra dimension of danger.
And those propellers better be able to survive bird-strikes or painted in glow-in-the dark candy-cane colors.