Says Prototype Aircraft Could Be Flying By Next Year

Urban areas are becoming increasingly congested, and traffic problems cost people and companies millions of dollars each year in lost productivity. The population of urban centers is expected to grow by 10 percent by 2030, putting 60 percent of the world's population in cities. With all that traffic congestion, Airbus is looking at the role of autonomous air vehicles to allow commuters to fly over the traffic at the touch of a button.

That is the concept explained in a recent issue of the Airbus "Forum" magazine, posted to the company's website. The planemaker is working with Silicon Valley company A3 to develop an autonomous air vehicle to transport both cargo and people.

A3 executive Rodin Lyasoff says that the basic technology for such a vehicle exists today, and that a prototype could be flying sometime next year. The A3 team has already agreed on a vehicle design and is beginning to build test subsystems, according to the report.

There will be regulatory as well as technology hurdles, of course. But Airbus Helicopters has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to test a drone parcel service on the campus of the National University of Singapore by the middle of next year.

The magazine reports that engineers at Airbus Helicopters have been working under wraps for two years to develop an aircraft ... currently dubbed "CityAirbus" that would resemble a small drone in basic design. It would initially be flown by a pilot to allow quick entry into the market, but the move to autonomous operation is entirely feasible, according to a study.

The end vision is for quiet, electric-powered aerial vehicles that could be completely integrated into an overall transportation system of a large city.

(Artists rendering of CityAirbus aircraft provided by Airbus Helicopters)

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