China unveils prototype car that can run and fly

Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC) introduced the GOVE flying car prototype and tested it at Tech Day event in Guangzhou on June 26.

During the launch, GOVE carried a passenger up to 18 meters high and flew forward in front of the media's presence. "The flying car is equipped with an electrical system with many redundant designs. Even if an electrical component fails in mid-air, the vehicle can still easily complete the flight. GOVE also integrates a multi-object recognition system. can help accurately identify obstacles from a full perspective," said Wu Jian, director of the GAC Research Institute.

GOVE is an electric vehicle that can run on the street and take off vertically. It consists of two parts: a drone with 6 propellers for flying and a 4-wheel chassis for moving on the ground. These two parts can be separated before the drone takes off, and when running on the road, the propellers will collapse. The chassis is rechargeable and can be controlled remotely. GAC also said that multiple users can share the same chassis.

Details such as price and production schedule have not been announced. However, according to a company representative, the commercialization of this vehicle could take a long time. In China, the use of drones for photography and farming is increasingly common, but the country still does not have regulations on the transport of passengers, according to Nikkei .

Before GAC, Airbus and a number of other companies also introduced flying car concepts that could be separated from the chassis. In China, several other companies are developing passenger drones, including electric vehicle startup Xpeng. GAC seems to expect demand for flying cars in southern China, where major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau are concentrated near the sea and have large river deltas.

Flying racing car accelerates to 360 km/h in 30 seconds
AUSTRALIA The Airspeeder Mk4 is equipped with 4 pairs of propellers, runs on hydrogen and achieves maximum flexibility when flying fast at low altitudes.

Alauda Aeronautics revealed the design of the Airspeeder Mk4 flying racing car. Video: Airspeeder

Australian company Alauda Aeronautics unveiled the Airspeeder Mk4, a manned flying racing car powered by hydrogen and equipped with four pairs of propellers, Design Boom reported on February 22. This is an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developed from Airspeeder Mk3, a remote control vehicle that has successfully performed more than 350 test flights.

While most eVTOLs are flown by tilting propellers, the Airspeeder Mk4 flies using a propulsion system designed by Alauda Aeronautics, in which an AI flight control system adjusts each pair of propellers mounted on lightweight 3D printed frames. The company said that the Airspeeder Mk4 is flown more like a fighter jet or a Formula 1 racing car than a multi-rotor helicopter.

The design team used hydrogen because it has a high energy density and can be stored in a compact form, suitable for small aircraft. "Hydrogen is also non-toxic and produces no waste except water, so it doesn't pollute the air. Also, because hydrogen is lighter than air, in the event of a leak, it will just float up and disperse into the gas. atmosphere, helping to reduce the risk of fire," said Alauda Aeronautics.

Alauda Aeronautics presents the Airspeeder Mk4 as the world's fastest hydrogen-powered eVTOL, with the ability to reach a top speed of 360 km/h in just 30 seconds from the start. This eVTOL model is primarily for racing purposes and is designed for maximum versatility at high speeds and low altitudes.

Designed and built in Adelaide, South Australia, the Airspeeder Mk4 has a takeoff weight of just 950 kg with an expected range of 300 km and produces virtually no emissions. The vehicle is equipped with a 1,000 kW turbine generator that powers the motors and batteries.

Alauda Aeronautics intends to begin test flights of the Airspeeder Mk4 chassis and powertrain, including the first passenger flights, in the first quarter of 2023. This flying car is expected to be completed in time to participate in the Airspeeder Racing Championship in 2024.