Boeing is sponsoring a new challenge open to everyone to create a personal flying vehicle that is safe, quiet, ultra-compact, near vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and capable of 20 miles in flight carrying a single person.
The GoFly challenge will offer up a prize pool of $2 million with prizes being awarded over the course of three phases with each phase increasing the monetary value.
Boeing says advances in propulsion, energy, lightweight materials and stability and control systems have combined to produce a time where such a flying vehicle is technologically possible and could be created by makers or global manufacturers.
The vehicle can be anything from a flying taxi, to a remotely piloted or autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or even a jetpack. Boeing is open to whatever design people choose with the only requirement being that it must be able to fly a person, or a mannequin that simulates the user.
Other requirements include the vehicle being able to function safely in both crowded cities and rural areas as well as being lightweight and maneuverable enough so anyone can move it around. It should also be quiet and Boeing says it is propulsion agnostic.
The deadline for entry into the challenge will be April 4, 2018, with the submission date just a few weeks later. In May, judges will determine the winners and prize money will be awarded. Phase 2 is set to begin in December of 2018 with the final fly-off of the winning teams to take place in October of 2019.
Source: Electronics 360