Making a car fly is an obsession that keeps filmmakers awake. Just look at Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element.
Footage of cars soaring over the city may soon become a reality. Another significant step toward that future has been taken by the Chinese smart car maker XPeng.
Its subsidiary — XPeng AeroHT — has created an advanced version of a fully electric flying car with vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL). It resembles a regular car with a drone-style quadcopter mounted on the roof.
After successful tests, the developers showcased the vehicle at the XPeng 1024 Tech Day event in Guangzhou. They also shared their work online with drivers who dream of new ways to avoid traffic jams.
According to the XPeng AeroHT team on their website, in driving mode the vehicle behaves like a conventional car in both size and functionality. In flight mode, the electric vehicle is controlled using the steering wheel and the right gear shift lever. With those controls, the flycar can move forward and backward, turn, take off, hover, and land. For added safety and reliability, the electric car is equipped with two backup engines.
The multirotor configuration has drawn perhaps the most interest from potential users. The four propellers lift the vehicle into the sky with surprising ease. Part of that effect comes from the manufacturer’s use of lightweight materials.
The XPeng AeroHT team equipped the model with a rotor-folding system. When the car is on the road, the propellers stay folded. If the driver wants to fly, they can press a button, and the propellers will extend.
Developers are exploring the use of artificial intelligence in flying cars, particularly installing robotic systems in these vehicles.
The next challenge for design engineers is to further improve flight safety and integrate more advanced technologies.
The company says traffic management systems need modernization. They should better handle challenging terrain such as stairs, steep slopes, and gravel roads.
