Tech companies want flying taxis on the battlefield

"US tech companies are hoping soon to gain clearance for flying taxis that make short commercial hops like Manhattan to LaGuardia Airport. Eyeing defense dollars, they're also equipping air taxies for the battlefield. Air taxis havewings and propellers, allowing them to take off and land like a helicopter and fly like an airplane. You can't yet hail a flying taxi anywhere in the US, though those futuristic flights could be coming in the next couple of years."

"Pentagon leaders have shifted their focus to the tech industry, arguing that traditional defense contractors can't deliver new weapons fast or cheaply enough to meet today's fast-changing global threats. The Pentagon has pledged to pour billions of dollars into new technology and has issued requests for information on hybrid, autonomous air taxis, also known as vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, or VTOLs."

"Flying-taxi makers including Archer Aviation, Joby Aviation, and BetaTechnologies say that gas-electric hybrid vehicles reminiscent of "The Jetsons" could carry military cargo more cheaply and quietly than helicopters. Some of the designs under development for the battlefield incorporate autonomous technology that could detect and avoid threats. The aircraft could be used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, or moving supplies and equipment, these companies say."

Manufacturers are seeking regulatory clearance for short commercial VTOL flights such as Manhattan to LaGuardia. Air taxis combine wings and propellers to enable vertical takeoff and landing along with airplane-like forward flight. Developers are producing gas-electric hybrid and autonomous variants aimed at both consumer hops and Pentagon contracts. The Pentagon is shifting toward tech-industry solutions, allocating billions and requesting information on hybrid, autonomous VTOLs. Hybrid VTOLs could transport cargo more cheaply and quietly than helicopters, perform intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and move supplies while incorporating threat-detection and avoidance capabilities. International competition includes Chinese firms such as EHang.

Read at Business Insider