NASA enlists universities, companies to help design flying taxis

NASA enlists universities, companies to help design flying taxis. — Dreamstime/TNS

SAN DIEGO: NASA has given the University of California, San Diego US$5.8mil (RM23.42mil) to help develop electric-powered flying taxis, a form of ride sharing that has been envisioned for decades but is struggling to get beyond the concept stage.

UCSD will lead a group of universities and companies in creating software tools to design small fleets of vertical takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft that are quieter, safer, cleaner and more efficient and affordable than helicopters.