In Uber's never-ending search for the next big thing, the ride-hailing service has planted its flag down in the flying taxi business. On Wednesday, Uber revealed their "Space Act Agreement" with NASA which allows the government agency to work alongside the company on their uberAIR program. The initiative is looking to create a transit network consisting of all-electric aerial vehicles that utilize vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology. Uber also enlisted the help of former NASA engineer and VTOL expert Mike Moore earlier this year.
In an announcement made by Uber Chief Product Officer Jeff Holden at the Web Summit tech conference in Lisbon, the company revealed how their relationship will turn uberAIR into a reality. The initiative will "help the company’s goal of starting demonstration flights of uberAIR in select U.S. cities by 2020," Uber said in a press release. "Uber will focus its collaborative efforts specifically on… developing requirements and technology demonstrations for urban air operations." Holden pointed out that the programs will be located in Los Angeles, Dallas and Dubai.
Uber is entering an already crowded field of play with Google co-founder Larry Page investing upwards of $100 million to develop a competitor for the ride-hailing service with the goal of releasing a commercially viable car by the end of 2017. Vice News was provided with a first look at the promo for the Uber VTOL taxi service. Check it out below.
