You Believe It? Intel Drone Leader Claims You Could Be Flying To Work In 5 Years

Drones are useful today for real estate photos and gas pipeline inspections. They could be useful tomorrow for home security and package delivery. But in a half decade, they could well shuttle you to work over the heads of drivers stuck in traffic.

That's what Anil Nanduri, general manager of Intel's drone group, expects. Drone innovation combined with people paying their way out of gridlock will mean flying cars will transform from exotic to accepted in the next few years.

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llaroo - 3/11/2019 7:11:00 PM

+5 Boost

question, How do you prevent yourself from getting decapitated ?

MDarringer - 3/11/2019 7:21:32 PM

+3 Boost

So all the people on the ground will be in the air?

zlives - 3/11/2019 7:33:45 PM

+8 Boost

why wait 5 years, you can be flying now. if you are not that just means you are not rich enough.

skytop - 3/11/2019 9:46:22 PM

+4 Boost

Imagine the air accidents that will be occurring due to dead heads texting while flying.

atc98092 - 3/12/2019 8:11:09 AM

+3 Boost

Rigs like this will have to be autonomous. As an Air Traffic Controller, I can say that these won't mix well with normal aviation, and they are going to have to be controlled via an automated system. So text away, you won't have to be paying attention. :)

SanJoseDriver - 3/11/2019 10:59:33 PM

-4 Boost

This will only work if the flying pods are completely autonomous. Dubai will have a system like this in 1-2 years that will fly between 20 or so buildings, so it is not unrealistic to see these systems pop up in a few locations within 5 years. Batteries are good enough for about 80 miles of range right now. Uber and several companies backed by Google founders are also working on the infrastructure for this.

I still think a loop/hyperloop is a better option for most cities since it can work 24/7, isn't impacted by weather, and there are fewer safety issues. The disadvantage is it will be much cheaper to build flying cars than tunnels.

Truthy - 3/12/2019 10:33:15 AM

0 Boost

5 years is optimistic. It was not long ago that these same companies were promising autonomous driving is 5 years. Several dead pedestrians and Tesla drivers later it appears there may be some kinks to be worked out that are more challenging than originally imagined.
Eventually, somethin like this may fly, but very limited such as the Dubai example of building to building. Cost/benefit ratio may prevent it.