Volocopter's drone taxi is one step closer to entering service. The German firm has revealed that its four-seat electric VTOL aircraft, the VoloConnect, completed its first flight in May. The machine's initial trip was brief at two minutes and 14 seconds, but the maneuvers proved that the production-level aerodynamics and performance held up in real world conditions. There have been three flights so far. The 60-mile range and 155MPH flight speed might not sound like much. However, they promise autonomous commuter flights beyond major urban centers -- you could fly to a business meeting from the suburbs.

Germany-based urban air mobility (UAM) startup Volocopter, which plans to launch fully-electric passenger air taxis and cargo drones around the world in coming years, says it has picked up $170 million as the first tranche of Series E funding to kick off services in "cities like Singapore, Rome, and Paris." With its latest round led by South Korean investor WP Investment, Volocopter has raised $579 million to date. The startup is developing a variety of sustainable mobility solutions – VoloCity, VoloConnect, and VoloDrone – for a commercial launch aimed as soon as 2024. As the only electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company to have received Design Organization Approval (DOA) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Volocopter finds itself in a leading position in a highly attractive emerging market. Volocopter has spectacular investors from around the globe, which puts us in an excellent position to focus on our first-to-certification and first-to-market strategies before we embark on the path to public listing. Notably, the company's new backer, WP Investment, is also entering into a strategic partnership with Volocopter to create a joint venture that will soon bring passenger air taxis to South Korea's cities.

To reach the Paris climate targets, global emission levels will need to be cut in half by 2030, reach net-zero by 2050 and stay net negative throughout the second half of the century. Yet, a just released BCG survey of 1,300 companies around the globe found that only 11% reduced their emissions in line with their stated ambitions over the past five years. "Measurement is a key roadblock with 91% of companies failing to measure the full scope of their emissions," Sylvain Duranton, the global leader of BCG GAMMA, a division dedicated to AI, data science and advanced analytics applied to business, said during an October 13 press conference. In a new study BCG maintains that artificial intelligence can help companies not only more accurately measure but also reduce carbon emissions. But using technology to measure carbon footprints and develop mitigation strategies is not enough.

German aviation outfit Volocopter has shown off another concept craft, this time aimed at capturing the commuter market. The VoloConnect is intended to transport up to four passengers over distances of up to 64 miles, taking people "from the city to […] suburban areas." In the release, the company says that the craft uses a hybrid lift and push design to electrically move bougie one percenters at speeds of up to 111 miles per hour. The VoloConnect is designed with six electrical motors and rotors, with a pair of propulsive fans jutting out behind. The use of the VTOL concept certainly, if this thing ever reaches the real world, would help it navigate inside cities while covering longer distances in open ground.

We already have drones and increasingly autonomous cars, so it's perhaps no surprise that several companies are already working on flying taxis – also known as passenger drones and electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The first piloted eVTOL services are expected as early as this year, but we could see pilot-less autonomous eVTOLs soon after that. That's right; autonomous flying taxis could be a reality in your lifetime. The number of hours we used to spend sitting in traffic before the coronavirus hit is almost too depressing to think about, particularly if you live in a densely populated, congested city like Los Angeles, New York or London. Some are suggesting eVTOL services could be the answer to our traffic prayers – transporting passengers on congested city routes through the air. Meanwhile, other companies are developing eVTOLs aimed at popular intercity journeys, such as traveling from my home town of Milton Keynes to London.

Volocopter is preparing to run inner-city tests of its autonomous air taxis in Singapore, starting in the second half of 2019. The company and the city-state's civil aviation authority are determining the scope of the tests, which Volocopter plans to conclude with public demo flights. The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles look like a cross between a helicopter and a drone, and have 18 rotors working to get you from one place to another. Volocopter claims its machine can fly two people up to 30 kilometers, while it can account for micro turbulences close to skyscrapers to keep your rides smooth. "We are getting ready to start implementing the first fixed routes in cities," Volocopter CEO Florian Reuter said in a press release.

Volocopter has presented an air taxi infrastructure idea which integrates air taxis into existing transportation systems. The concept would provide additional mobility for up to 10,000 passengers per day with a single point to point connection. Alex Zosel, Volocopter co-Founder, expects the first full Volocopter air taxi system, with dozens of Volo-Hubs and Volo-Ports, to be in place within the next 10 years, capable of flying 100,000 passengers an hour. Volocopters are emission-free and electrically powered aircrafts which take off and land vertically; offering a high degree of safety. Based on drone technology, they have been scaled to carry two people, initially for distances of 27km.

Airbus announced this week it successfully tested its flying taxi Vahana on Jan. 31 in Oregon. The test is a bit behind schedule. Airbus promised last January to test a prototype for an autonomous flying car by the end of 2017. The test comes less than two years after Airbus announced its autonomous flying car plans in September 2016 by introducing Project Vahana. The goal of the company's A³ division is to allow people to book rides using an app, like Uber or Lyft, but for flying cars instead.

Drones are going to see significant new capabilities in 2018. The use of multiple high-functioning cameras as well as upgraded Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) will enhance navigational acumen far beyond that of today's drone models. This, combined with ultra-fast charging and longer-lasting batteries, means the drones of 2018 will have far greater range and performance flexibility. Expect to see more and more sectors incorporating drones into their operations this year as a result. Drones offer a vast, bird's eye view for collecting data, which can contribute enormously to diverse areas such as weather, traffic flow, and even disaster forecasting.

Volocopter and Workhorse showed off their incredible'super drones' at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, each touting the ability to fly piloted or autonomously and slash commuting times in busy urban areas. The two were among the most highly-anticipated exhibitors at CES this year, as the firms have both revealed their visions for Uber-style flying taxi services with the vertical takeoff and landing craft in the foreseeable future. Volocopter stunned attendees during Intel's keynote by flying the drone right onto the stage, in what a spokesperson admitted was a'ballsy' move – but, while Workhorse was slated to demonstrate its SureFly craft this week, the flight had to be cancelled due to the rain. In many ways, the two craft appear similar. But, an up-close look reveals key differences that truly set them apart.