Tag: UberAIr
SkyRyse Air Taxi to Launch in Tracy, CA
On August 28th, a new company called SkyRyse launched. SkyRyse is a new a air taxi statrup featuring a single-rotor helicopter with advanced tech features. It plans to launch air taxi services by 2019. The SkyRyse helicopter takes a major step toward autonomy for air taxis. It paves the way for the future of flying cars. The SkyRyse features an...

SkyRyse Air Taxi to Launch in Tracy, CA

On August 28th, a new company called SkyRyse launched. SkyRyse is a new a air taxi statrup featuring a single-rotor helicopter with advanced tech features. It plans to launch air taxi services by 2019.
The SkyRyse helicopter takes a major step toward autonomy for air taxis. It paves the way for the future of flying cars. The SkyRyse features an advanced piloting system with situational awareness and intelligence. Its system will be able to use data from other flights to provide safer and more efficient options. The software automates much of the flight control systems, taking the mental workload and room for error off of pilots.
Designed by experts from Tesla, Boeing, SpaceX, and Uber, SkyRyse has raised $25 million in seed funding. Mark Groden, CEO and Founder, envisions initial operations supporting city’s emergency response units, including law enforcement, search-and-rescue missions, and firefighters. He says, “Because the stakes are highest in emergency response situations when minutes can mean the difference between life and death, we’re launching SkyRyse Emergency Response to support governments and municipalities first, with plans to change how we get around our cities in the future.”
SkyRyse will begin operations in Tracy, California, and is based out of Silicon Valley. It’s backers include Venrock, Eclipse, Industry Ventures, Trucks VC, Cantos, and Engage Ventures.
Why It’s Important: While SkyRyse does not feature DEP (distributed electric propulsion), it’s launch marks a huge step in the right direction for air taxi vehicles. SkyRyse is quick-to-market approach to urban aviation mobility, using existing hardware to kickstart the industry. It’s launch promotes the acceptance of VTOLs as a usable form of transport, and pushes the technology of the industry further.
UberAIR will be in Japan, Brazil, France, Australia, or India
On Thursday, Uber Elevate finalized the list of potential international locations for its third city of operations of UberAIR. It includes Japan, Brazil, France, Australia, or India. Uber Elevate confirmed last year that its first two cities would be Los Angeles, California, and Houston, Texas. It also announced that it would enter in one international city. On Thursday, Uber shortened...

UberAIR will be in Japan, Brazil, France, Australia, or India

On Thursday, Uber Elevate finalized the list of potential international locations for its third city of operations of UberAIR. It includes Japan, Brazil, France, Australia, or India.
Uber Elevate confirmed last year that its first two cities would be Los Angeles, California, and Houston, Texas. It also announced that it would enter in one international city. On Thursday, Uber shortened the list of potential countries down to five: Japan, Brazil, France, Australia, or India. UberAIR originally meant to operate in Dubai as its third city, but Dubai changed its plans.
Last February, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi met with the Union Minister of State for Aviation for India, Jayant Sinha. In this meeting, Sinha stressed the need for flying cars in India, and presented Uber with a case for the large consumer base. UberAIR in India would service Mumbai, Delhi, or Bangalore.
This Monday, India released its ‘Drone Regulations 1.0’ last Monday, just one day before Uber’s Business Officer for Emerging Markets, Madhu Kannan, confirmed India as a potential country for UberAIR. While the ‘Drone Regulations 1.0’ do not specifically allow for e-commerce companies to deliver by drone, it launches India’s ‘Digital Sky Platform’. The Digital Sky Platform is similar to NASA’s UAM software. It is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle management software that will create a ‘digital highway’ system for drones, allowing users to submit flight plans and understand where they can fly.
Why it’s Important: Uber’s naming of five cities as potential launch locations inspires competition among the cities to prepare for flying cars. This means that even those countries Uber does not choose will be ready for flying cars sooner rather than later. UberAIR may come into those countries next after its third city, or another operator may have a chance to enter. Either way, flying cars are coming to the international community soon.
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