Dubai goes all Jetsons with introduction of flying taxi drones

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Passengers in Dubai will be able to select a drone taxi for their commute by as early as July. The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority announced at the World Government Summit this week that the city would start operating drone taxis along predetermined routes from this summer, Techcrunch reported. The city will use Ehang 184 autonomous quad-opener electric drones to shuttle people around via air, according to the New York Times. The drone can carry one passenger with a maximum weight of 220 pounds, for a distance of 31 miles on one charge, at a top speed of 100 mph. Dubai authorities said the drones would operate at 62 mph, the New York Times reported. Passengers would board the drone, buckle into a harness and select a destination on a touch screen before taking off, according to a promotional video made by the Roads and Transport Authority. The Ehang drones will be monitored through a central command center on the ground.