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Because we need to think realistically, and economically. Improving, and incrementing familiar technology now. Not introducing another mess in the air. We haven

Because we need to think realistically, and economically. Improving, and incrementing familiar technology now. Not introducing another mess in the air. We haven't even got self-driving land vehicles, and we're just going to make the jump to aircraft that NO ONE is familiar with? We still rely on primitive controlled explosions to get off our planet. Sure it's a neat idea, but this isn't the Fifth Element world yet. Update ground infrastructure, improve public transportation, make renewable energy a priority, get our cars driving themselves.

ohyoutravel 10y ago
This is probably the argument horse carriage operators made when mass produced cars were just coming into being.
- Spooky23 10y ago
  It's also the argument used by naysayers of corporate jet cards.
Spooky23 10y ago
Self flying aircraft are much easier than cars. Fewer variables and years of experience in military contexts. My parents live in a rural area 16 mikes from our city center. Due to terrain and roads, it's a 30 mile/60 minute trip. With a flying car/shuttle, its no more than 20 minutes.
- overcast 10y ago
  I'm going to infer you're talking about drones. There is a quantum leap difference between self flying military robots, and ones that carry humans around safely during rush hour crowds.
  - Spooky23 10y ago
    What would someone say in 1996 about a form of cruise control that functions like an airplane shipping today in a Tesla? What would the average person say about a self-driving cab that is currently being piloted by Uber at that time? I'm honestly surprised about the downvoting and snark here. There are Air Force officers sitting in trailers in Nevada right now controlling swarms of semi-autonomous drones, performance surveillance and blowing stuff up. Why is a simple air taxi beyond the imagination?
    - overcast 10y ago
      Remote controlled aircraft are not even in the same ballpark as autonomous aircraft that pick up humans, and drop them off at school/work/home. No one is arguing that this won't be common place someday, but that is a distant future. Self driving cabs are natural a iteration of an existing mode of transportation. Going from manual land cars, to automated flying cars is not even close.

ohyoutravel 10y ago

This is probably the argument horse carriage operators made when mass produced cars were just coming into being.

Spooky23 10y ago
It's also the argument used by naysayers of corporate jet cards.

Spooky23 10y ago

Self flying aircraft are much easier than cars. Fewer variables and years of experience in military contexts. My parents live in a rural area 16 mikes from our city center. Due to terrain and roads, it's a 30 mile/60 minute trip. With a flying car/shuttle, its no more than 20 minutes.

overcast 10y ago
I'm going to infer you're talking about drones. There is a quantum leap difference between self flying military robots, and ones that carry humans around safely during rush hour crowds.
- Spooky23 10y ago
  What would someone say in 1996 about a form of cruise control that functions like an airplane shipping today in a Tesla? What would the average person say about a self-driving cab that is currently being piloted by Uber at that time? I'm honestly surprised about the downvoting and snark here. There are Air Force officers sitting in trailers in Nevada right now controlling swarms of semi-autonomous drones, performance surveillance and blowing stuff up. Why is a simple air taxi beyond the imagination?
  - overcast 10y ago
    Remote controlled aircraft are not even in the same ballpark as autonomous aircraft that pick up humans, and drop them off at school/work/home. No one is arguing that this won't be common place someday, but that is a distant future. Self driving cabs are natural a iteration of an existing mode of transportation. Going from manual land cars, to automated flying cars is not even close.