After 15 years of development, an Israeli tech firm hopes it will finally get its 1500 kg (1.5 tonne) passenger-carrying drone off the ground and into the market by 2020.
The Cormorant, billed as a flying car, is capable of transporting 500kg (around half a tonne) of weight and travelling at 185 km/h.
It completed its first automated solo flight over terrain in November. Its total price is estimated at $US14 million ($19.4 million).
Developers Urban Aeronautics believe the dark green “Unmanned Air Vehicle”, or drone, which uses internal rotors rather than helicopter propellers, could evacuate people from hostile environments and/or allow military forces safe access.
Read the full article Elana Ringler and Patrick Johnson at The Australian Financial Review.
Read more: http://www.afr.com/technology/israels-flying-car-passenger-drone-gets-ready-for-takeoff-in-2020-20170103-gtli9i#ixzz4Uk73xE8o
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