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The Japanese are developing a flying electric car to protect against earthquakes
A team of Japanese engineers from Mikawa, Aichi Prefecture are working to develop a flying car, which can be used for rescue operations during natural disasters.
It is planned that the unique aircraft will be ready by 2020. At the same time that has elapsed in the last month earthquake in Kumamoto spurs inventors to work harder and it is possible that the project will be completed ahead of schedule.
Young specialists have already conducted the first test flight on the basis of an elementary school in the city of Toyota. Reducing the size of the prototype 30 to 60 centimeters above the ground successfully climbed 3 meters and "hung" in the air for some time. Several repeated tests also showed successful results.
In fact, the prototype used is a drone - a large-scale copy of the device 1: 5 with all the structural elements, which will be equipped with a full flying car. Three-wheeled machine is made of reinforced plastic and carbon fiber, and are raising it in the air four propeller.
Developers also features and full-size car, but because of the high cost of the prototype, it was decided to carry out basic tests on reduced models. As the power plant flying machine uses an electric motor. At this stage, the machine weighs 180 kg, but the engineers plan to replace all the aluminum parts for carbon fiber and reduce his weight up to 100 kg.
The car accommodates one person is equipped with the steering wheel, gas pedal and brake, so it can be used for travel on public roads. And one of its main advantages, according to Japanese engineers, is the ability to take off and sits upright at any time.
"Flying electric car will be able to quickly implement the rescue operations and to carry out work on the delivery of goods - say the authors of the project. - This technology can save many lives, so we will try to finish the development of the unit as soon as possible. "
It is planned that the unique aircraft will be ready by 2020. At the same time that has elapsed in the last month earthquake in Kumamoto spurs inventors to work harder and it is possible that the project will be completed ahead of schedule.
Young specialists have already conducted the first test flight on the basis of an elementary school in the city of Toyota. Reducing the size of the prototype 30 to 60 centimeters above the ground successfully climbed 3 meters and "hung" in the air for some time. Several repeated tests also showed successful results.
In fact, the prototype used is a drone - a large-scale copy of the device 1: 5 with all the structural elements, which will be equipped with a full flying car. Three-wheeled machine is made of reinforced plastic and carbon fiber, and are raising it in the air four propeller.
Developers also features and full-size car, but because of the high cost of the prototype, it was decided to carry out basic tests on reduced models. As the power plant flying machine uses an electric motor. At this stage, the machine weighs 180 kg, but the engineers plan to replace all the aluminum parts for carbon fiber and reduce his weight up to 100 kg.
The car accommodates one person is equipped with the steering wheel, gas pedal and brake, so it can be used for travel on public roads. And one of its main advantages, according to Japanese engineers, is the ability to take off and sits upright at any time.
"Flying electric car will be able to quickly implement the rescue operations and to carry out work on the delivery of goods - say the authors of the project. - This technology can save many lives, so we will try to finish the development of the unit as soon as possible. "
