OREANDA-NEWS  Engineers of the National Research Technological University "MISIS" constructed a prototype of a flying taxi. The development of vehicles “of the future is planned to be completed by 2020, the press service of the University reported on Wednesday.

"In the center of prototyping of high complexity, MISIS Kinetics assembled a prototype of the aircraft of the future by order of the Russian company Bartini. Aerotaxi - namely, this function will perform the device-has successfully passed several tests. It is planned to complete the development and present the air taxi on the market by 2020," the press service reported.

The University said that the air taxi will work on three main principles: electric traction, aerodynamics (mobility) of the wing, vertical take-off and landing. The device takes off vertically, like a copter, accelerates in a horizontal plane, its screws rotate perpendicular to the body. Then the device flies like a plane. The landing then takes place in reverse order.

"The body is made of polymer materials, the axes are made of steel, powered by lithium batteries. The weight of the prototype is about 60 kg, and the speed is about 200 km/h. The device is controlled remotely. Directly take-off, maintenance in the air and moving the device is carried out by four "wings" - twin screws fixed to the movable axes, this is the effect of Bartini, named after the Italian aircraft designer", - the press service quotes the words of the head of the production Department of "Kinetics" Pavel Kosyatov.

The Assembly of the transport prototype began in March 2018. By May, the design work was completed, technical tests began, during which the device demonstrated good maneuverability and stability of the control systems.

"The center for prototyping of high complexity "Kinetics" ... was opened in 2017. This is a high-tech platform that has no analogues not only in Russia but also abroad. Thanks to talented engineers and unique equipment, today the University can implement a full cycle of production of prototypes commissioned by our business partners. The developments are unique and anticipate customers ' expectations, "added Alevtina Chernikova, rector of MISIS.