The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai is set to begin a trial run of its manned autonomous air taxi (AAT) in the last quarter of this year.
RTA has also signed an agreement with German autonomous air vehicles manufacturer VOLOCOPTER to launch the first AAT, which will be designed to carry two passengers.
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The transport authority has also extended the trial of its autonomous air vehicle to meet all the necessary operational requirements in terms of safety and security.
The trial will commence gradually in the last quarter. The experimental phase will be followed by the introduction of legislations needed to operate such vehicles for a period of around five years.
RTA board of executive directors chairman and director-general Mattar Al Tayerwas quoted by Gulf News as saying: “The test run of the first autonomous air taxi capable of carrying two passengers is in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest city worldwide.
“It also comes as part of RTA’s efforts to provide autonomous transportation by conducting the required technological tests of those vehicles under the climatic conditions of Dubai.
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By GlobalData“The move also echoes Dubai’s Smart Autonomous Mobility Strategy that seeks to transform a quarter of the total mobility journeys in Dubai into autonomous transport by 2030. Another objective is to enhance the integration between mass transit modes and people’s happiness by providing smooth, fast and innovative transit modes.”
RTA’s autonomous air vehicle will be equipped with 18 rotors, a full aircraft emergency parachute, and nine independent battery systems.
AAT can cruise at a speed of 50km/h maximum flight duration of 30min.
