While everyone else seems to be in the race for who can be the first to bring a fully autonomous self-driving car to the world, Japan has its sights set a bit higher. Literally.
The Japanese government has set up a regulatory council that will come up with the rules and regulations that will govern the development, testing, and implementation of flying cars.
If flying cars sound too much like something out of a science fiction movie to be real, think again. There are already companies building prototype flying cars – they just might not be what you’re picturing.
They look more like an oversized drone or a mini-helicopter than a car. Most prototypes are electric vehicles which take off and land vertically. And since the technology is advancing to the point where companies are offering test-flights to potential buyers, the Japanese government is now looking for ways to regulate what could soon be a booming industry.
It’s not just regulation though. The government also hopes that by putting a framework in place, it will encourage new companies to choose to develop their technologies in Japan.
At first, the government sees the technology being used in mountainous regions of Japan, to let people fly to small nearby islands, or to assist in rescue and recovery efforts. Later though, Japan expects that flying cars will help to reduce traffic.
And that’s why you’re seeing an article about flying cars in Asia on a website about trucking in North America. Perhaps – eventually – truckers may not have to worry about four-wheelers cutting them off or causing traffic. The road could belong to trucks delivering freight that’s too heavy to join the flying cars in the sky.
Source: ttnews, telegraph, japantimes, japantimes
shogun says
Finally. This has been needed for years, flying car legislation. And at $600,000 a piece! People will gladly by these instead of normal cars.
Andrew H says
Everything comes at an early adoption price. Cars back in the day would be about that much if they didn’t invent automation and assembly lines. Heck even quadcopters as a whole are way more affordable now than they were when they became popular. So maybe a decade or so down the line it could be plausible, who knows, that’s what’s exciting about life.
shogun says
You honestly believe they will start at $600k and drop down to $25k in a decade to be economically competitive? In what fantasy world does that happen?
Richard A. says
Truckers will be safer on the ground without the 4 wheelers? Don’t think so. How much random debris will be raining from the sky when the 4 wheelers inevitably smash into each other in the sky. Lack of gravity will probably worsen their driving skills. Not to mention the ones who will find great pleasure in dumping their garbage onto the trucks below. Aahh, fun times ahead.
Ryan says
It would be much easier to automate a flying vehicle than one that has to negotiate objects on the ground. That being said, I think it’s going to be quite a while before we have the technology that is both efficient and cheap enough to be affordable to the masses.
Daniel says
People don’t realize air travel is only safer because it’s far lighter traffic passing at different altitudes and is highly organized and monitored. Once these idiots on the road now are up in the air, everything on the ground will get destroyed by falling morons. =D
Heat Bail says
Finally, Goerge Jetson!
TexasJester says
Well, since 4-wheelers aren’t supposed to be on the interstates to start with….
The interstate was originally designed to facilitate the movement of the military and trucks – NOT as a freeway for cars.
Alex Velez says
I guess I better start saving money for a DeLorean and the flying conversion.