And what if we just fly to work?

Science fiction has always portrayed a future with skies that are full of PAVs. This vision is now closer to reality than ever before, thanks to the EU-funded project 'Enabling technologies for personal air transport systems' (MYCOPTER).

Envisioning a personal flying vehicle with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, the project is investigating the required automation technologies and human-machine interfaces, without losing track of the socio-economic impact of such developments.

A personal aerial transportation system (PATS) could alleviate the increasing congestion problems on the ground, which would result in time savings, more productivity, less frustration and enhanced flexibility in urban planning. But before such a system can deliver on these promises, various technological and societal challenges need to be resolved.

Key to the success of a PATS are automation technologies. Autonomous flight in urban environments where accurate GPS-based localisation cannot be guaranteed, collision-free autonomous navigation, and automatic landing place selection are prime examples of challenges that MYCOPTER is tackling.

At the same time, interactions between a pilot and the PAV are of crucial importance. Intuitive human-machine interfaces are required to make flying as easy as driving a car. Conventional vehicles are not suitable for this purpose, and MYCOPTER is investigating how vehicle responses should be augmented and how pilots can be trained. New flight control devices such as a steering wheel and pedals, or force-feedback sidesticks are considered suitable for pilots with limited flight experience. These new concepts have been integrated into various simulators and tested in flight scenarios.

But a PATS will of course never become a reality if it is not accepted by society. The MYCOPTER project is performing explorative investigations into the socio-technological prerequisites and implications of a personal aerial transportation system. Four focus group interviews performed in different European countries are shedding light on social expectations towards such a system and its potential role for future mobility.

While various challenges still need to be resolved before PAVs can take off, the groundwork is now in place for advancing this technology. Once exploited it is set to alleviate urban traffic, save time and fuel, and improve the quality of life for EU citizens.