Autonomous vehicles are already doing so well with two dimensions, why not add a z-axis?
The skies over parts of the US could soon get busier, as the Federal Aviation Administration launches pilot projects spanning 26 states to test electric air taxis and other next-gen aircraft, with operations expected to begin by summer 2026.
Selections for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Integration Pilot Program (eIPP) were announced by the FAA on Monday, with eight projects chosen to participate in the initiative. The program will run for three years after the first project begins operations, and the selected efforts span 26 states.
According to the FAA, the projects will explore operational concepts including urban air taxi services, regional passenger transportation, cargo and logistics networks, emergency medical response operations, autonomous flight technologies, and offshore or energy-sector transportation.
“These partnerships will help us better understand how to safely and efficiently integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System,” said FAA Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau. “The program will provide valuable operational experience that will inform the standards needed to enable safe Advanced Air Mobility operations.”
Is there a point to this? Back to the Future isn’t 2001: A Space Odyssey. It doesn’t have to predict everything.
Cars crash enough already for reasons spanning from shit driving to shit manufacturing. I don’t see the value in making them even more guaranteed to be lethal on failure, especially when innocent pedestrians and people’s roofs are downrange from these things.
Oops, the battery ran out. Hope we’re not over somewhere populated! The tech just isn’t ready until we have Mr. Fusion.
if one of these falls, and causes injury to someone I personally know, myself or my property… someone will be held personally accountable through traditional means…