Once you see Blade Runner 2049, the thought may cross your mind that flying cars (or “hovercars” as Phillip K. Dick wrote in his novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep) could only exist in the distant future.
Think again.
On September 25, Dubai staged a test flight of the Volocopter, a two-seat drone with 18 propellers developed by a German drone firm. Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed even attended the test flight.
The United Arab Emirates city has long sought to become a high-tech hub of modern innovation by enticing companies through the elimination of sales and income tax and investing in cutting-edge technology such as holograms and robot police.
Right now, the Volocopter is a novelty, flying without remote control guidance for 30 minutes (with backup batteries and rotors as well as parachutes). Eventually, the technology will become practical, opening a Pandora’s box of questions.
What kind of effect will flying vehicles have on society? Will access to advanced transportation technology be exclusive, further dividing the social stratums? Drones have already transformed warfare and drug trafficking. What will happen when people can be transported?
[et_pb_section admin_label="section"] [et_pb_row admin_label="row"] [et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text"] Press release from the Center for A.I. Safety…
In case you missed the news, the first images came in from the James Webb…
The intriguing image above was uploaded to Fine Art America by an astrophotographer, Jason Guenzel,…
Storytelling, mythology, and legends have always influenced the scientific mind. There are some spectacular…
May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind be always at your…
