French aerospace firm has announced the completion of the first successful test flight of its Vahana autonomous flying taxi.
The electric drone, a full-scale prototype dubbed Alpha One, ascended and descended without a back-up pilot on board, and achieved “a modest height of five meters”, The Verge reports.
Although the flying taxi was in the air for only 53 seconds, the test is a step towards the company’s “ultimate goal” - to “build an autonomous passenger drone network” that will function similarly to a ride-hailing service, says Engadget.
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Airbus expects to launch a production-ready version of the Vahana drone by 2020, The Verge adds, after further extensive testing.
Several tech companies are currently developing pilot-less transport vehicles and systems.
Ride-hailing service Uber launched its Elevate programme, which also aims to offer short taxi rides by air, in 2016. The firm plans to open flying-taxi terminals in Dubai, Los Angeles and Dallas.
In November, Uber announced a partnership with Nasa to create an air traffic control-like system that allows flying cars to travel safely over city skylines at low altitude.
