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Singaporeans will get to go home by flying taxis in the future, says the Ministry of Transport.
According to a spokesperson, MOT is already taking initial steps to make this futuristic mode of transport a reality. Companies are already in talks with the ministry to start trials on drones that carry passengers.
These details were revealed on Wednesday at the second Business Times Leaders’ Forum, where permanent secretary Pang Kin Keong gave out some of the trends and technologies the MOT was looking at for Singapore’s future transportation network.
To solve issues of manpower and land constraints, the MOT will be looking at growing its range of urban mobility ranges for different kinds of journeys. Mr Pang said in the future it may be possible for a person to ride in a driverless pod to work, cycle to the gym after work and take an aerial taxi home.
“There is going to be a significant shift in the public mindset from one of ownership of transport assets – which is the mindset today – to one of procurement of transport services as and when you need them.”
Human carrying aerial drones are one mode of transport that the MOT is considering. The Hoversurf Scorpion by a Russian startup, the Volocopter VC200 from German company e-volo, and the Ehang 184 autonomous aerial vehicle from China are among the companies in talks to start trials in Singapore. Dubai is already planning to fly the Ehang 184 as an aerial taxi as early as July.
“In 2030, you bet your money that aerial transport will also be a means of urban mobility,” he said, but did not disclose further details beyond the ministry being in talks with some companies about putting human-carrying drones through tests.
