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It's Happening! Hyundai Launches First Flying Car Division For An Automaker
Motor 1 ^ | October 1, 2019 | Chris Bruce

Posted on 10/02/2019 8:49:09 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

A former NASA engineer is leading the program.

Hyundai is the latest automaker to pursue the lofty dream of the flying car. The company's new Urban Air Mobility Division aims to reduce the traffic congestion resulting from what the firm calls "mega-urbanization." To head this initiative, the business hires Dr. Jaiwon Shin, the former leader of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA.

"Having worked on cutting-edge aviation research and development at NASA for 30 years, I am very excited and humbled by the opportunity to now shape urban air mobility strategy at Hyundai Motor Group," Dr. Shin said in Hyundai's announcement of his hiring. "The new team at Hyundai will develop core technologies that will establish the company as a driving force in urban air mobility, a sector that is expected to grow into a market worth USD 1.5 trillion within the next 20 years."

The goals of the Hyundai Urban Air Mobility Division seem fairly open at this early stage. It "aims to provide innovative and smart mobility solutions never seen or thought of before," according to the company. With such a broad scope, there's no telling what this new team might create.

(Excerpt) Read more at motor1.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: aviation; hyundai; korea
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Not new.


41 posted on 10/02/2019 10:42:11 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Specialization is for insects.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
For those concerned about falling out of the sky, there's always

42 posted on 10/02/2019 10:44:26 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Specialization is for insects.)
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To: bitt
Yeah. Uh-huh. Let the fleecing commence.

Urban Air Mobility grants

43 posted on 10/02/2019 10:44:28 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: bitt
NASA's budget for fiscal year (FY) 2019 is $21.5 billion.

Why don't we already have it with that large of a budget?

Oh, I know...we need more money!

44 posted on 10/02/2019 10:47:19 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: stylin19a

How do you like the ioniq? I’ve seen a few, and they seem rather nicer (and less obnoxious looking) than the pious.


45 posted on 10/02/2019 10:50:27 AM PDT by Kommodor (Terrorist, Journalist or Democrat? I can't tell the difference.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

To think I was worried about falling Amazon drones and packages. Now, it’s falling cars.


46 posted on 10/02/2019 10:56:04 AM PDT by bgill
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To: bitt
Urban air mobility takes off in 64 towns and cities worldwide December 10, 2018

The United States begins about 3/4 of the way down the page.

47 posted on 10/02/2019 10:56:45 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Crusher138; 2ndDivisionVet

Notice that they are only talking about urban areas.

It seems like all the players are looking at multi-copter designs, like scaled up drones. Maybe tilt rotors for longer haul aircraft.

UPS just got approval from the FAA to operate a drone airline, for delivery of packages up to 55 pounds. Just scale that up a few fold.

The multiple rotors could have independent power supplies, for high reliability redundancy/graceful degradation in case of failures. The onboard computer could gauge weight, and verify adequate power for the planned trip, before leaving.

Ultra-reliability/redundancy will be needed, because failures would be highly lethal from hundreds of feet in the air. Maybe there will be special seats and restraints for added protection, as well as airbags and automatic parachutes.


48 posted on 10/02/2019 11:02:39 AM PDT by BeauBo
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Keep in mind that this is for commercial venues, not for private use.

How much more is your eventual "air taxi" ride going to cost?

49 posted on 10/02/2019 11:04:51 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Crusher138; 2ndDivisionVet

Wide use would probably require a standard transponder system onboard each aircraft, to constantly broadcast its position, to support automatic collision avoidance, as well as traffic control, access authorizations, parking/landing clearance, and of course,, tolls and taxes.


50 posted on 10/02/2019 11:15:13 AM PDT by BeauBo
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To: philman_36; bitt

Your link highlights more uses than urban commuters.

Rural supplies (farms, ranches, cabins) point to point links (B2B), and around large facilities like a campus, oilfield/offshore platforms, or ports.

Communications relays and surveillance functions might use them as well.


51 posted on 10/02/2019 11:28:22 AM PDT by BeauBo
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To: oldasrocks

Future problems to be worried about AFTER we get our flying cars!


52 posted on 10/02/2019 11:31:26 AM PDT by Little Ray (Freedom Before Security!)
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To: grey_whiskers

I would love a Jetsons saucer.
And just think about what it would do for parking if it folds upto a briefcase!
But I don’t if I could stand those grueling two-hour workdays at Spacely’s Sprockets!


53 posted on 10/02/2019 11:33:18 AM PDT by Little Ray (Freedom Before Security!)
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To: Kommodor

I had a Prius C that i traded in for the Ioniq.
I bought the base version because it gets the better MPG. The upgrade versions had all the driver safety stuff on it, adding weight. Bought a new 2017 in 2018. Got a great deal on it. They don’t hold value like a Toyota or a Honda, but I don’t care about that.

I ended up buying a spare tire kit.

I would like to see a rear windshield wiper.

The mpgs on this thing is crazy. Went to texas and back (to illinois) and spent less than 90 bucks in gas. (plus 30 bucks in tolls in OK)

It ride’s half-way decent and there’s decent storage space with the back seats down.
The Prius had a 9.5 gal gas tank. The Ioniq has an 11.9 gas tank.

Interesting thing is(besides their awesome warranties)...lifetime warranty on the hybrid batteries.

This could very well be the last car I ever buy.


54 posted on 10/02/2019 11:39:46 AM PDT by stylin19a (2016 - Best.Election.Of.All.Times.Ever.In.The.History.Of.Ever)
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To: BeauBo

Yep, nothing about private use, only commercial use.


55 posted on 10/02/2019 11:41:18 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

the Hyundai Airlantra?


56 posted on 10/02/2019 1:19:48 PM PDT by John Milner (Marching for Peace is like breathing for food.)
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To: stylin19a

funny thing is that’s kind of whai I was thinking. Lifetime battery warranty, yum. :)


57 posted on 10/02/2019 1:51:32 PM PDT by Kommodor (Terrorist, Journalist or Democrat? I can't tell the difference.)
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To: grey_whiskers

you beat me to it, though i was going to propose to Hyundai that that design should be considered as a prototype for their flying car ...


58 posted on 10/02/2019 2:20:41 PM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: ctdonath2
Also, the Moeller Skycar:

59 posted on 10/02/2019 2:30:11 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Fact: Gun control laws kill innocents.)
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