VOLOCOPTER: THE DRONE TAXI FLIES AT CES

During the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (Intel) conference, the German firm Volocopter gave a live demonstration of its flying taxi, part of which is provided by the microprocessor giant.

After conducting its first public test flight into Dubai skies in September 2017 (see article below), the Volocopter drone taxi went to Las Vegas to star perform for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The device, equipped with 18 electric rotors, was the highlight of the Intel conference.
Installed in a giant cage and secured by safety ropes to prevent any risk of accident, the Volocopter rose to less than two meters from the ground to travel a very short distance without any passengers on board. Nothing really impressive, but the object of the demonstration was different. Indeed, it was to boast Intel's involvement in the design of this machine.

---Intel has provided its technology to Volocopter---

The processor manufacturer, which is also developing a hardware and software platform for drones, has supplied its technology to the Volcopter. In this case, it is the adaptive flight controller and redundant systems that provide security. As explained by one of Intel's engineers in charge of drones in a video dedicated to the Volocopter, the flight controller maintains stability, notably by analyzing errors in the magnetic field of rotors when conditions are difficult.
Several dozen processors constantly monitor the environment of the device and relay this information to the rotors in milliseconds. Volocopter also took advantage of CES to reveal that Brian Krzanich, the CEO of Intel, had himself taken aboard the drone taxi during a flight made last month in Germany. Intel's technological backing is obviously precious to make the project that faces many competitors, especially at Uber, Airbus or China's Ehang credible. Dubai hopes to be the first city to launch a taxi drone service in about five years.