It might seem like something out of a science fiction movie, but the use of flying cars could come sooner than you think!
On 25th August 2020, Japanese company, SkyDrive Inc unveiled its prototype flying car to the public with a successful four-minute test flight at the Toyota Test Field in Toyota, Japan.
The SD-03 is a single seat flying car and is billed as the world’s smallest electric vehicle. It looks a bit like a motorcycle – or a traditional drone – with four attached propellers, and is currently capable of maintaining approximately ten minutes of flight – but the company is aiming to expand that to 30 minutes.
A pilot was at the controls for the flight, but a computer-assisted control system helped to ensure flight stability and safety, while technical staff at the field monitored flight conditions and aircraft performance at all times.
Based on the results of the testing, SkyDrive aims to obtain approval for flights outside the limits of the Toyota Test Field before the end of the year. The company has also said it’s aiming to have a commercially available version of the car completed by just 2023.
