Flying Vehicle Concepts

Moriah Chang, Staff Writer

Lawbreakers in Dubai will soon have nowhere to hide. Not even in the sky. Dubai police, already home to vehicles such as Lamborghini patrol cars, self-driving robots, and android officers, have decided to take their challenge to the skies in what can only be described as a flying motorbike. This Russian-designed hoverbike is the newest addition to Dubai police’s tech squad. The Scorpion relies on four propellers to stay airborne, with the rider having to crouch precariously close to the exposed blades. Robust enough to travel 25 minutes at a speed of 40 mph, this single-seat craft can carry 600 lbs and can also operate autonomously.

The Scorpion appeared in several tech shows earlier this year, and Dubai police have even decided to add one to its list of cutting-edge gadgets, making it a part of the force’s “smart city” plans. According to Alexander Atamanov, the Hoversurf CEO, the company has established a memorandum with the police of Dubai, inviting and allowing them to open mass production of the vehicle within the vicinity of Dubai.

Dubai police aren’t the only ones creating innovative flying vehicles. Companies across the globe are also coming up with new designs and blueprints for vertical take-off and landing aircraft. In April 2017, U.S. ride-sharing app Uber proclaimed its Elevate program, which will oversee vertical take-off and landing aircraft transport riders by air by 2020. This company is anticipating to launch its program in Dallas, Texas, and Dubai. According to Uber, its vertical take-off and landing aircraft will decrease transportation time dramatically. A trip that normally takes over an hour on the ground will only take 15 minutes on a flying motorbike.

Founded by five MIT graduates in 2006, U.S. start-up Terrafugia has two flying car offerings. The Transition operates similarly to a light sports aircraft in the air, as well as a being likened to a typical car on the ground. The Transition was uncovered in 2009, and its first delivery is expected in 2019. As of now, Terrafugia is taking reservations, with a $10,000 deposit.

For those further interested in discovering new flying vehicle concepts, be sure to take a look and watch the Dubai police’s new Scorpion in action, and scroll through galleries to discover more about the future of flying vehicles.

Graphic courtesy of JENNY QIU