A flying prototype taxi Pop.Up Next showed in Amsterdam on Drone Week

28 November 2018

Audi, Airbus and Italdesign showed the current layout of the flying unmanned electric vehicle

One of the most lovely concepts an individual transport vehicle of the future called Pop.Up Next, presented this week at the exhibition, Drone of the Week in Amsterdam, the venerable Audi, Airbus and Italdesign. Thanks to the modular design the vehicle can move on roads of General use, and fly around through the air tube and other obstacles.

The basis of the concept Pop.Up Next is put double streamlined capsule which is easily moved from one media type to another, such as with the wheel of electrosense can be picked up by a flying drone special design. Accordingly, to move the capsule to the drone and back wheeled chassis is equipped with a special lift. Naturally, the entire system, including the transfer to another type of propulsion and the movement along the route occurs in an unmanned mode, but the people in the cockpit of the remaining passengers can enjoy the impressions of the view and speed of delivery.

While to demonstrate the concept of Pop.Up Next was created a compact layout scale 1:4. However, representatives of such companies as Audi, Airbus and Italdesign convince the public that expect a commercial taxi in accordance with this concept, it remains to wait is relatively short – just a few years.

According to the plan double capsule Pop.Up to external dimensions 2,6x1,4x1,5 m, made of heavy-duty, but lightweight carbon fiber (it is, for example, make now monocoque cars "Formula-1" that can withstand crash tests and overload 30g).

Drone carrier with takeoff (actually boarding the same) weight 600 kg taking off and landing, of course, vertically, and its maximum range is 100 km, while the power plant with a total capacity of 136 kW, consisting of 8 motors for 17 kW each, allows you to accelerate to 100 km/h. the capacity of the air battery module is 70 kWh, the time to charge will be only 15 min.

Chassis for land travel is equipped with a motor power of 60 kW, the leading wheels of the rear axle, and battery capacity of 15 kWh. the Maximum speed does not exceed the same 100 km/h and power reserve is 130 km away.

Now the EU is preparing regulations on operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), which recently in the skies of Europe has bred a great many.

For this reason, for example, the Executive Director of the European Agency for safety Patrick Ki said: "Since this industry is expanding rapidly, it is important for us to anticipate market development and be ready for change."