Flying Car News, May 5
A remarkable array of new drone-powered services are saving lives across the globe!
This week’s top Flying Car News: Drones save lives, an autonomous air ambulance, Miami flying car skyport, medical drones in the Himalayas, and more!
Flying cars will be a significant part of the future of transportation. Recent advancements in drone technology, electric VTOL aircraft, and autonomous systems have paved the way for an aerial transportation revolution. We created the Udacity Flying Car News Series, to ensure you stay up-to-date on all the latest Flying Car and Autonomous Aircraft stories!
Drones Save Lives
Drone manufacturer DJI has released a report indicating that 65 people have been rescued by drones in the last year, in 27 incidents, on 5 continents.
“The new report found drones have dropped buoys to struggling swimmers in Australia and Brazil, spotted unconscious victims in sub-freezing weather in England and America, and found stranded people in fields, rivers and mountains.”
Autonomous Air Ambulance
Researchers at CalTech have developed a ⅕ scale prototype of an autonomous air ambulance that can fly up to 20 minutes per trip.
“Researchers envision the vehicle transporting people facing medical emergencies like heart attacks or strokes and airlifting injured or trapped victims from hard to reach disaster zones including wildfire or flood zones.”
Miami Flying Car Skyport
Building developer Dan Kodsi has unveiled the Paramount Miami Worldcenter highrise, which includes a skyport for VTOL aircraft.
“Apart from the state of the art amenities you’d expect in any modern new tower, this one has something special on its roof — a 5,000 square foot Skyport for vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, or what the average Joe on the street would call flying cars.”
Medical Drones in the Himalayas
The Nepalese National Innovation Center has created the country’s first medical drone, which is being used to provide medical care to hard to reach areas in the Himalayas.
“The machine, designed and assembled by young Nepali graduates, is the most effective way of bringing health services to people in difficult-to-reach areas, said Pun.”
UTM Testing
Nasa has completed the first part of its 3rd phase of Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management, in partnership with private unmanned service providers including Google Project Wing and Airmap.
“The more- and more precise- methods that drones have to see, communicate, and deconflict the safer the airspace will be: and that’s exactly what’s being tested, successfully, right now.”
If you are interested in joining the pioneering generation of engineers who will build the smart transportation systems of the future, discover Udacity’s Flying Car Nanodegree Program today!
And stay tuned for more Flying Car News!
