Self-Piloted Taxi in The Works

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The Airbus Group in the Silicon Valley signed Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI) and their partner, SOAR Oregon a contract for developing the electric, self-piloted vehicle – Vahana.

It’s a platform for individual passenger and cargo transport. It seeks to advance automated electric flight for the emerging on-demand mobility market. The contract covers the prototype Alpha Phase, which seeks to identify and resolve major technical and certification risks, culminating in a flight test demonstration at the end of 2017. MTSI will lead the flight test effort, while their partner SOAR will provide test range support and other services.

The model is made up of eight rotors and two wings, and houses a single passenger beneath a retractable canopy.

MTSI, as written in it’s website, is an engineering services and technology solutions provider for the defense industry, intelligence community, and commercial markets. SOAR is a non-profit company established to make Oregon a leader in the civil Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry, and support Oregon’s three FAA-designated UAS Test Ranges.

“The MTSI Team is proud to be selected as the Flight Test Lead for Vahana. This unique air vehicle will challenge traditional flight test methodologies,” stated Paul Linnell, MTSI Director, Civil & Commercial, and Project Manager.