Aston Martin unveils concept for flying automonous vehicle
Aston Martin has presented a luxury concept aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities at the Farnborough Air Show.
The concept aircraft is a near future study that previews a flying autonomous hybrid-electric vehicle for urban and inter-city air travel.
It aims to bring luxury personal transportation to the sky that is fast, efficient and congestion free.
The Volante Vision Concept has been produced in partnership with Cranfield University, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Rolls-Royce.
“We need to look at alternative solutions to reduce congestion, cut pollution and improve mobility,” said Aston Martin chief executive Dr Andy Palmer.
“Humans have always spent on average, one hour commuting to and from work. The distance we live from our workplace has been determined by the methods of transportation available.
“The Volante Vision Concept will enable us to travel further with our hourly commute, meaning we are able to live further away from where we work. Cities will grow, and towns that are today too far away from cities to be commutable will become suburban.”
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions’ chief executive Paul Hutton said: “The introduction of autonomous and electric propulsion technologies into new aircraft designs is both inevitable and challenging, and as the UK’s leading aircraft design and production SME we are excited to be playing this key role in the Volante Vision Concept and so to be at the vanguard of this revolution in aerospace.”
