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Flying cars are a common factor in every futuristic, Sci-Fi flick but now they could be jumping off the screen and into the real world and everyone wants in on the action. First, there was the race to the moon and now it’s a race for the skies.

NEC Corp seems to be ahead in the race since Monday the electronics company showed their flying car hovering for over a minute at 3 meters high. It was the first big step into the possibility of having flying commercial vehicles. They claim they will have them in production by 2030.



The difference between these cars in comparison to small planes and helicopters is the ability to hover and create less noise. It will also be battery powered which will be less pollution to the environment. They will also not require extensive training to fly like planes and helicopters. The cars could be qualified as large drones that are big enough to fit humans. It will take off vertically and land the same, therefore eliminating long runway spaces and make it safer and easier for operating.


“We at NEC believe that a revolution of travel centered on flying cars will occur,” NEC Corporation Vice President Norihiko Ishiguro told the Associated Press. “When that time comes, we want to provide technology and services as a management base.”

The idea of creating a flying car isn't something new-many researchers and scientists have been experimenting and inventing different ways to achieve it but haven't succeeded until now. One of the biggest challenges in creating a flying car is the materials. Cars are made of steel and heavy materials that cause difficulty in having them fly with ease. Recent technological advancements in lighter composite materials have made it possible to create flying cars that hold weight. Another advancement is new ways to power batteries to last for longer flights.





Another close second in the race is Uber Air. Jaunt Air Mobility, an aerospace vehicle start-up in Pennsauken, and Price Systems, a cost estimation company in Mount Laurel, are currently working with Uber to design, build, and estimate the cost of making flying urban transportation. The company has ambitious plans to make Uber Air commercially available in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne, Australia, by 2023.

“As urban congestion continues to rise, so do the costs associated with it, including commuter time and costs for goods and services,” said Kaydon Stanzione, chief executive of Jaunt Air Mobility. By 2050, the United Nations predicts that 68% of the world’s populations will live in urban areas, diverting more cars onto already congested highways. Instead of trying to drive through the congestion, Uber asked, “Why not fly over it?”

However, there is still a long way to go before these will be released to the public.  Many hurdles remain such as battery life, the need for regulations and safety concerns such as cybersecurity. Hackers get more advanced every day and the ability to hack into someone's transportation is a real threat. There are many things to work out until this hits the market and if the Race to Space is any indication of how much testing, mistakes, and timing on success- there will be many failures before wins in the race.


source : https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolemartin1/2019/08/06/the-race-for-the-sky-flying-cars-are-finally-here/?ss=ai-big-data#11edcc4c2b03