To date, Volocopter is perhaps the most advanced of all such projects.
The German startup Volocopter has released a video showing a light two-seat multicopter helicopter with 18 propellers (octadecacopter) flying over the runway at an altitude of several tens of meters.
This is not the first test of Volocopter. However, this time the main goal of the company was the intention to prove that its creation can coexist perfectly with airports and can be integrated into the air traffic control system. If everything goes smoothly, it will mark a significant step for the development of this type of transport, designed for short flights.
The very first solution was presented by the company in 2011, when the VC 1 multicopter, designed for one person, made its first flight. This electric prototype could hardly even be called a vehicle, as if pulled out of the Mad Max universe. But that was only the beginning.
The developments of Volocopter attracted close attention and the company managed to get funding from the German government. Companies such as Intel and Daimler also invested in the project, providing not only money, but also technology. This allowed us to create several more new projects, which turned out to be much more interesting. To date, Volocopter's creations have already reached a level where they can be tested in the coverage areas of conventional aircraft. At the same time, the company is engaged not only in the construction of the copters themselves, but also in the creation of software for them.
