Prototype CityAirbus Autonomous Aircraft May Fly Late This Year

The Airbus Urban Mobility division may conduct tests of an autonomous "flying car" later this year, according to Airbus CEO Tom Enders.

Speaking at the DLD digital tech conference in Munich Monday, Enders said that the company could fly a single-person concept aircraft by the end of the year. The goal would be to offer either single or multiple-passenger vehicles that could be booked using a Uber-style app.

Reuters reports that, while the idea is only in the experimentation phase, Enders said Airbus takes the concept "very seriously." He said that any vehicle developed would have to use clear energy to avoid further polluting cities.

Enders also said that the concept of autonomous aerial transportation could help both national and local government save billions on the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

The Airbus CEO said that Airbus wants to leverage its leadership in the helicopter arena to make the most of new technologies like artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. "If we ignore these development, we will be pushed out of important segments of the business," he said in his speech.

(Airbus image. Artists concept of CityAirbus aircraft)

FMI: www.airbusgroup.com/int/en/news-media/corporate-magazine/Forum-88/My-Kind-Of-Flyover.html