This Car-Drone-Hybrid Can Drive, Fly And More!
You're stuck in traffic on your commute to work.
What if you could just take you car and fly it across the packed highway?
What if you could travel through the streets as well as through the air , always choosing the quickest way to reach your goal?
This sounds like a dream or a scene from a Sci-Fi movie, but it might actually become a reality!
Airbus has created a new concept vehicle which is a hybrid between a car, a drone, and even a train.
Meet the Pop.Up !
It's a two-seater pod which can be combined with different forms of transportation - it can be attached to wheels as a car, hung under a quadcopter like a drone or plane, connect with other pods to form a train, or even go through a Hyperloop.
This unique creation erases the differences (and disadvantages) of the different modes of transportation, offering the passenger the ultimate choice so that they can get to their desired destination as quickly as possible.
It sounds like something straight out of a "Transformers" movie, but it's actually a real product - although it's currently only a concept car and not available for sale yet.
The Pop.Up was created by Airbus in cooperation with Italdesign, but there's not time frame yet when (or if ever) this product will hit the commercial market.
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The Pop.Up will be offered as part of a carsharing service, if Airbus wants to follow through with the concept shown in the promo video above.
As a car, the passenger pod (made from carbon fibers) goes on 4 wheels, which have an electric drive and can go autonomously as well.
To turn it into a aircraft, the pod is being clipped under an 8-rotor quadcopter and can then be flown around like a giant drone.
It can also be connected to other Pop.Ups and form a train, or the pod can go through a specific Hyperloop tube.
The possibilities for transportation are almost endless here!
What's your opinion on the Pop.Up?
Just a futuristic gadget or a concept with potential?
Images: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Instagram -
© Sirwinchester
The future is here! Super cool, thanks for sharing.
The future is really closer than we think in many cases!
Glad that you enjoyed the post :)
i want one!
I'd love to test it out as well, must be awesome
Is this still a prototype. Drone taxi already started in Dubai i think. i think last year or if not later this year but it is already running. Not as hot as this one though.
Yes I've heard about that too.. But this is still only a concept.
I think realistically we're still a few years away from flying cars, but the prototypes are getting better and better that's for sure.
Surely this can be created! Question is: Will we be able to all work together since such concept requires more than 1 company to make the whole thing happen? I like to believe we will see the light sometime soon.
Interesting question! I'd love to see this come to life as well. But then the whole world would need to adjust the traffic rules for air travel as well
And we all know how traditional the airspace is controlled!
But it always starts with visions and good to see a more or less traditional aircraft manufacturer stepping up their game, and maybe Dubai is the playing field for all sort of new visions. When a country is leading, adoption can go quicker. When testing and playing is successful, it'll get more traction.
BUT, still a long way to go! :)
Back to the future :D
Exactly!
If only.. Would be great but don't think I,ll ever be rich enough to afford one
Maybe in a few decades flying cars will become more and more commercial and the price will become more reasonable.
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