Shaped like a flying saucer, this vehicle looks more like a UFO than the next Uber. But this sci-fi-style vehicle is actually the latest in a line of electric aircraft that will take to the skies over the next decade.
The fully autonomous vehicle, Invo Moon, offers a 360-degree view for up to three passengers, from above and below, while traveling at speeds of up to 300 km/h.
The key is that it is designed to be close and silent, using a flight system hidden within its envelope, rather than relying on noisy exposed helicopters like most of its competitors.
The £280,000 aircraft – which is the same size and weight as a small family car – will be able to move in any direction, similar to a handheld drone.
Inventor Leo Kayali, a former Tesla engineer, told the Daily Mail that the design was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci's sketches from five centuries ago.
The goal is to be certified by the US aviation authority by 2027 and to launch in "all major cities including London" by the end of the decade.
He said future owners could have the option to use it like an Uber when they're not using it, and "make money while staying home."
The government announced last year that it expected flying taxis to be "routine" in British skies by 2028 - and could operate unmanned by 2030.
English ministers have drawn up ambitious plans to change current regulations and infrastructure, with technology expected to drive a £45bn boost by the end of the decade. GazetaExpress reports.
The Invo Moon – 16ft in diameter and weighing 2,500lb – can be pre-ordered for £2,000 and will cost around £280,000 when delivered.
However, Mr Kayali believes these vehicles – which he says should be cheap to build when mass-produced – could sell for less than £50,000 in the future.
Unlike most electric flying vehicles, the Invo Moon packs everything inside its aluminum frame.
The vehicle uses a complex aerodynamic design in which twelve engines, each containing rotating spheres, are positioned in a circle around the side of the vehicle.
By using these motors in groups of four at a time, it can move in any direction 360 degrees, meaning it has neither forward nor backward. To land, it extends three landing legs.
Mr Kayali said this means there is very little vibration, so the car will not emit more than 45 decibels while driving – about as noisy as light rain.
Most other eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) vehicles operate at around 85 decibels, equal to the noise of a mixer, and also create a lot of excess wind.
Inside the cabin, there are three rotating, fully-covered heated seats that offer views up and down through plexiglass windows.
This "luxury vehicle" will also have mood lighting, an ice machine and smart TV.
It has a range of up to 300 miles and takes no more than 30 minutes to charge from 20 percent to 80 percent, says Mr. Kayali.
While the design may look futuristic, it is actually based on concepts first invented by Da Vinci in the 1480s.
The exterior is inspired by the Italian artist's sketches for the "Armored Car," while the internal flying mechanism is a new interpretation of his design for the "air deck," considered a precursor to the helicopter.
The self-driving car is autonomous and is designed to follow a three-lane system, similar to a highway – but rising vertically.
The speed limit increases as each level increases – from 100 mph to 250 mph – and can only land after returning to the slower lane. /Express newspaper/
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