Flying cars may no longer be a thing reserved for science fiction films, as this company is only a few years away from flying the first commercial air taxi. Furthermore, this air vehicle is said to be autonomous and powered by electricity. As implausible as it may seem, this aircraft is on its way to its first passenger flight.
The Future of Transport
This fully autonomous aerial vehicle is Wisk's sixth-generation aircraft, which takes pride in its ability to take off and land vertically. This means that once this vehicle is readily accessible, there will be no need for runways, making this aircraft suitable for many modern cities. Instead, the aircraft is said to land on strips called Verti ports.
The 6th-Generation aircraft, according to Wisk, is the culmination of decades of research, testing, and development. Generation 6 has a new standard of safety and passenger experience thanks to configuration upgrades, a larger passenger cabin, and the use of our sector-leading autonomy platform. The company claims it is the world's most advanced four-passenger autonomous eVTOL air taxi.
The aerial vehicle appears to be a transportation force capable of alleviating many cities' traffic and congestion issues. The Wisk aircraft promises the most affordable passenger air miles that are nearly as easy as Uber. All of this can be had for about $3 per passenger mile in 10 to 20 minutes of travel time.
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We should also discuss how this aircraft does not require a pilot. While Elon Musk's Tesla claims to be the pioneer of self-driving cars, Wisk hopes to be the world's first to accomplish the same feat on a civilian airliner. You may be wondering how this is possible, especially since the aerial vehicle performs unpiloted takeoff, flight, and landing.
According to CNET, multi-aircraft supervisors will be on the ground observing up to 10 aircraft at once. As per Wisk, 93% of the pilot controls on modern commercial aircraft are already automated. They claim that transitioning to full autonomy with vehicle supervisors on the ground and keeping an eye on multiple aircraft that are not as big a leap.
Testing and Regulations
The startup will soon present for US FAA approval, according to TechCrunch. The report claims that type certification by the Federal Aviation Administration is one of the three certifications that an aviation company must obtain before beginning a commercial service.
This implies that the aircraft must adhere to all of the FAA's safety and design requirements. Wisk also needs to secure an air carrier certification and a production certification before it can begin producing its eVTOL and offer its air taxis as a service.
Forbes reports that Wisk's sixth-generation air taxi is a descendant of development work begun in 2010 by Google co-founder Larry Page's Zee.Aero and later a company called Kitty Hawk that Zee.Aero was folded into.
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