(Image source from: mobilipo.com)
A German startup company, Volocopter GmbH is gearing up to offer electric helicopter to ferry travelers across city skies.
The startup company backed by Intel Corp. and Daimler AG has built an electric helicopter in an anticipation to offer its basic commercial trips in the next three to five years, after completion of test flights in Dubai and Las Vegas. It is at present seeking at least $100 million to set up manufacturing of the flying taxis.
"Volocopter is in talks with new and current investors to raise the funds as soon as possible," Chief Executive Officer Florian Reuter said in an interview, sitting inside a sleek white example of the drone parked in downtown Berlin. "We want to be the world’s first commercial air taxi service."
To conquer local skies raising money is merely one facet. Planemaker Boeing Co. to a startup backed by Larry Page, are working on aircraft that could be capable of landing on urban rooftops or special pods to pick up to pickup passengers and that can be used as robotic taxis.
The another seem to be hurdle to commence flying taxis is convincing regulators in traveling these machines over populated areas.
Volocopter says it’s furthest along with the technology and working with regulators -- it already has a provisional license from German aviation authorities and has completed an autonomous flight in Dubai, a city that seeks to make a quarter of its transport autonomous by 2030.
Volocopter is a machine with 18 rotors and two seats, for a pilot and a passenger or for two passengers in remote-controlled or autonomous flight mode.
The company claims that the drones are so muffled that one can't hear them over 100 meters away.
Last August, Mercedes parent company Daimler led a 25 million-euro or $29 million funding.
In December, Intel Chief Executive Officer Brian Krzanich boarded Volocopter for a test flight in an exhibition hall near Munich.
"That was the best flight I ever had," Krzanich said. "Everyone will fly in one of these someday."
By Sowmya Sangam
