Innovation is the key to a smarter world and a better life. Appreciably, change is the ‘mantra’ around the world; and most things are set to change sooner than later. What one can do is, simply hold one’s breath and wait to see a new world run more by technology, robots etc and less by humans who invented them. News now is cars that can both ride on roads and fly in the air are to be made or marketed in India in another two to three years.
Known as Personal Air and Land Vehicle One, and firmed up by a Dutch company, this is set to revolutionise travel in the years ahead. The vehicle has been found to be both air-worthy and road-worthy, a prototype of it having been preseo nted first at the Geneva Motor Show in March last year. The car takes just 10 minutes to convert itself from flying mode to riding style, as had been demonstrated by the PAL-V automobiles firm.
The car can take two in, or a couple for that matter, on a dream journey. It could be a curious tale of them taking off from their home in one city and landing right at their destination in a distant city, or in the middle of a forest, hassle-free. Amphibious automobiles that can be driven on roads and ride on water, alternatively, are already around for the past quarter of a century.
Safety is guaranteed. Two global authorities – the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency have given their clearance for the vehicle’s air-worthiness. The vehicle also meets road safety requirements. It promises 160 km speed per hour on road and 180 km while in flying mode. Charting the routes and modalities thereof would need to be worked out once the vehicle sales pick up and reach around the world. This could just be the start, and more motor companies are bound to step in with this new technology in more advanced forms. The fever about driverless cars, electric cars etc is now old story. What’s good about this travel is there’s no worry over road conditions or traffic congestions.
It is a moot point why India with a vehicular population of 23 crore, or China with 35 crore, could not come up with such innovations. There is little to expect when, for instance, India’s R and D spend for the past 20 years remained stagnant at about 0.6 per cent, though it registered a three-fold rise.