Flying Cars Of The Future: Airbus Designs Electric Robot Taxi

French aerospace giant Airbus has begun developing a self-flying, electric-powered aircraft capable of autonomously carrying passengers to their destinations, according to weekly business magazine Fast Company. The computerized plane, called "Vahana" after the mythical creatures ridden by Hindu deities, would be able to make trips up to about 50 miles at about half the travel time of conventional automobile taxis and without the use of a runway. The design was fixed with eight propellers and two sets of wings, one of which would tilt upwards to raise the aircraft like a helicopter before moving 90 degrees to propel the aircraft forward. It can reportedly reach speeds of up to 115 miles per hour and carry 1,100 pounds, but was designed for single passenger use. Airbus expected the Vahana would be ready within a decade, but has already begun building its first prototype and was looking to begin conducting test flights by the end of the year.