4 ms·

I can't remember who said it or on which podcast, but they basically said that VTOL is the real game changer, not autonomous driving. Sure autonomous driving m

by giarc 6y ago

I can't remember who said it or on which podcast, but they basically said that VTOL is the real game changer, not autonomous driving. Sure autonomous driving might be able to shave some time off of your commute, but you are still in a car and still driving on roads. VTOL is what really allows you to experience what the ultra wealthy with access to private jets and helicopters have experienced. Getting out of the city to a 'vacation' spot in no time at all.

aeternum 6y ago
The problem is a landing spot in the city and noise. Most buildings no longer have helicopter pads and neighbors are not going to appreciate the amount of dirt your VTOL kicks up whenever you leave for vacation.
- qppo 6y ago
  This is what they say: > The Lilium Jet engine has been fully developed in our in-house sound lab where we have used proprietary acoustic modelling software, simulated on high-performance computing clusters, to optimize its design. As well as a customized electric motor, it contains innovative liner technology which means the aircraft will be inaudible from the ground when flying above 400m and will only be as loud as a passing truck while taking off. On the ground, the aircraft will move to and from parking bays using separate electric motors, allowing it to be as quiet as a typical electric car. The usage of future tense (will be) makes me somewhat skeptical
hristov 6y ago
Until you invent anti-gravity, VTOL will always be (i) very energy intensive, and (ii) and very disruptive to the surrounding environment. This is both in terms of noise and air turbulence. Self driving is something that may be solved and can become practical for popular use with current and near-term foreseeable technology. Everyday mass use VTOL is not. Sorry, the Jetsons lied to you.
- wefarrell 6y ago
  Black hawks are quiet enough for specops teams to use them in urban raids like the Bin Laden one.
  - bouchard 6y ago
    The rotorcraft used for the Bin Laden raid weren't standard Black hawks. The modifications probably required huge trade-offs in cost/performance and might still not be quiet enough for daily use in urban/residential areas.
    - wefarrell 6y ago
      Still not exactly anti-gravity. Lilium boasts: "As well as a customized electric motor, it contains innovative liner technology which means the aircraft will be inaudible from the ground when flying above 400m and will only be as loud as a passing truck while taking off." https://lilium.com/the-jet https://lilium.com/the-jet
  - missedthecue 6y ago
    It wasn't that quiet, it was fast and below radar
- giarc 6y ago
  >Everyday mass use VTOL is not. Sorry, the Jetsons lied to you. Many companies are working on this problem currently. I would say consumer accessible, piloted electric VTOL is closer than fully self driving vehicles.
  - einpoklum 6y ago
    > Many companies are working on this problem currently. They're working on nullifying gravity? Cool.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- 6y ago
soperj 6y ago
> VTOL is what really allows you to experience what the ultra wealthy with access to private jets and helicopters have experienced. I don't really want to experience what Kobe Bryant experienced though.

by giarc 6y ago

aeternum 6y ago

The problem is a landing spot in the city and noise. Most buildings no longer have helicopter pads and neighbors are not going to appreciate the amount of dirt your VTOL kicks up whenever you leave for vacation.

qppo 6y ago
This is what they say: > The Lilium Jet engine has been fully developed in our in-house sound lab where we have used proprietary acoustic modelling software, simulated on high-performance computing clusters, to optimize its design. As well as a customized electric motor, it contains innovative liner technology which means the aircraft will be inaudible from the ground when flying above 400m and will only be as loud as a passing truck while taking off. On the ground, the aircraft will move to and from parking bays using separate electric motors, allowing it to be as quiet as a typical electric car. The usage of future tense (will be) makes me somewhat skeptical

hristov 6y ago

Until you invent anti-gravity, VTOL will always be (i) very energy intensive, and (ii) and very disruptive to the surrounding environment. This is both in terms of noise and air turbulence. Self driving is something that may be solved and can become practical for popular use with current and near-term foreseeable technology. Everyday mass use VTOL is not. Sorry, the Jetsons lied to you.

wefarrell 6y ago
Black hawks are quiet enough for specops teams to use them in urban raids like the Bin Laden one.
- bouchard 6y ago
  The rotorcraft used for the Bin Laden raid weren't standard Black hawks. The modifications probably required huge trade-offs in cost/performance and might still not be quiet enough for daily use in urban/residential areas.
  - wefarrell 6y ago
    Still not exactly anti-gravity. Lilium boasts: "As well as a customized electric motor, it contains innovative liner technology which means the aircraft will be inaudible from the ground when flying above 400m and will only be as loud as a passing truck while taking off." https://lilium.com/the-jet https://lilium.com/the-jet
- missedthecue 6y ago
  It wasn't that quiet, it was fast and below radar
giarc 6y ago
>Everyday mass use VTOL is not. Sorry, the Jetsons lied to you. Many companies are working on this problem currently. I would say consumer accessible, piloted electric VTOL is closer than fully self driving vehicles.
- einpoklum 6y ago
  > Many companies are working on this problem currently. They're working on nullifying gravity? Cool.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
6y ago

soperj 6y ago

> VTOL is what really allows you to experience what the ultra wealthy with access to private jets and helicopters have experienced. I don't really want to experience what Kobe Bryant experienced though.