Dubai is a leading tourist destination in the Gulf, and it announced that it has successfully made a 'concept flight' of an autonomous hover-taxi service.
Using a prototype electric hover-vehicle designed by Germany’s Volocopter. the taxi that looks like a helicopter can fly across Dubai's skyline for about 30 minutes, with a maximum speed of 100 kmh (62 mph).
The vehicle is equipped with a variety of safety features, including an emergency parachutes and nine independent batteries, in case anything goes wrong, according to Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA).
Passengers will be able to book the air-taxi service through an app, and track its journey and arrival, similar to Uber or any other ride-sharing services.
The concept taxi is the first to make its flight in Dubai, and this has made the home to Burj Khalifa close to its goal in becoming the pioneer of hover-taxi services.
The city's transport chiefs expects that it will take years before it to become a thing in common. They still need to figure out safety and legislation governing the cutting-edge mode of transportation, for example.
RTA envisions that the air-taxis will become a fundamental cornerstone of the city’s public transport; much like buses, subways, and ordinary taxis.
