Inventor In Philippines Attempting To Create Passenger Drones

Inventor In Philippines Attempting To Create Passenger Drones

In the city of Batangas, Kyxz Mendiola is trying to re-purpose existing unmanned drone technology to create what he calls a "flying sports car." Earlier this month he demonstrated his invention, which took off and hovered for several minutes in a successful test flight. 

"It was amazing," Mendiola told Reuters. "All the hard work paid off. Everything worked perfect. Press a button and it will go up, then push the stick forward, it goes forward. It's very smart, that's why I'm saying it has a lot of potential."

The current prototype took Mediola years to fund and refine. It contains a single seat and is powered by six lithium-ion batteries .

It can carry up to 220 lbs and is steered with a radio frequency controller. 

The capital of the Philippines, Manila, suffers from some of the worst traffic conditions in the world. 

"When we have to go somewhere about an hour's drive, this can take you there in five minutes," Mendiola says.

The feasibility of single-passenger multicoptors is debatable, but we and our partners at Axelrod Collision Center of Cleveland, OH will be watching as new developments arise.

Perhaps the future of commuting lies in the sky.

Written By: Todd Hendrickson
Source: Reuters