The Future of Urban Mobility in Global Cities by Lord Kulveer Ranger, Vice-chair AI All Party Parliamentary Group

I like to look into the future and think about how the world around us will work in the near future.

as Former Policy Director For Transport for London, I have had the privilege of shaping the evolution of urban mobility in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. From introducing a new cycle hire scheme, redesigning road space, advancing the adoption of electric vehicles and demonstrating the £18bn Crossrail line, my experiences have given me a unique set of insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead globally. Major cities grapple with the future of transportation. I would like to share my thoughts on how to use emerging technologies, in particular Electric vertical take-off And landers, set to revolutionize urban mobility.

For decades, cities around the world have struggled with a fundamental challenge: how to move millions of people efficiently and sustainably within a limited space. In London, we have faced this head-on, implementing innovative solutions such as congestion charging and investing heavily in public transport infrastructure. However, despite these efforts, the car remains the dominant mode of transportation for many urban residents.

The root of this problem lies in the limited nature of road space. As cities become more dense and populous, competition for this limited resource intensifies. Buses, cyclists, pedestrians and an ever-increasing array of delivery vehicles compete for their share of the road. This congestion affects individual journey times while also affecting the overall economic attractiveness of the city.

Flight time reliability and the promise of EVTOL technology

One metric that often goes unnoticed in discussions of urban transportation is trip time reliability. It’s not just about how quickly you can get from point A to point B, but how consistent the time is when making that trip. This consistency is critical to a city’s competitiveness and livability. After all, what good is a rapid transit system if you can’t rely on it to get you to work on time?

This is where the exciting potential of electric vehicles with vertical take-off and landing comes into play. For more than a century, the idea of ​​flying cars has captured our imagination. Now, thanks to advances in electric propulsion and Control systems based on artificial intelligenceThis science fiction dream is about to become a reality.

EVTOL technology provides a puzzling solution to the urban mobility dilemma. By taking advantage of the 3D space above our cities, we can relieve congestion at ground level while providing fast and efficient transportation. These vehicles promise to be cleaner and quieter than traditional aircraft, making them more suitable for urban environments.

Integration challenge

However, integrating eVTOL vehicles into existing urban transportation networks is not without challenges. We need to consider:

– Infrastructure development: Cities will need to create networks of vertical airfields – designated take-off and landing areas for electric rotorcraft.

– Air traffic management: We will need advanced systems based on artificial intelligence to manage the complex design of ground and air traffic.

– Safety and regulation: Safety standards and stringent regulatory frameworks will be crucial to ensuring public confidence and safety.

– Noise and environmental impact: Although they are quieter than helicopters, the widespread use of eVTOL vehicles will still have acoustic and visual impacts on urban environments.

– Accessibility and equality: We must ensure that this new mode of transportation does not become an exclusive service for the wealthy, but rather integrates with and enhances existing public transportation systems.

The successful integration of eVTOL technology into urban mobility systems will depend heavily on artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence will be crucial in managing the complex 3D traffic patterns that will emerge as we add a large number of flying vehicles to our urban airspace.

Moreover, AI will play a vital role in optimizing roads, managing energy consumption, and ensuring safety through predictive maintenance and real-time monitoring of vehicle and environmental conditions. The synergy between eVTOL technology and artificial intelligence has the potential to create an intelligent, efficient and responsive urban mobility system.

Imagine a future where your daily commute involves taking a flying electric taxi from a nearby vertical airport, bypassing ground traffic entirely. This is not an unattainable dream. It may become a reality within the next decade. Companies are already testing prototypes of electric helicopters, and cities like London are starting to plan the infrastructure needed to support this new mode of transportation.

However, it is important to note that eVTOL vehicles are not a panacea for all urban mobility challenges. It will be part of a broader, integrated transportation ecosystem that includes traditional public transportation, cycling, walking, and ground vehicles. The key to success will be creating seamless connections between these different modes of transportation.

Embrace the 3D city

It is time to expand our thinking beyond the two-dimensional constraints of road networks. The integration of eVTOL technology represents a shift towards truly 3D urban planning.

This transformation will not happen overnight, and will require close collaboration between city planners, technology companies, regulators, and citizens. But the potential benefits – reduced congestion, improved air quality, and enhanced urban mobility – make the trip worth making.

The future of personal urban mobility is about more than just getting from point A to point B faster. It’s about reimagining our cities as dynamic 3D spaces where road and air transport are seamlessly intertwined. It’s an exciting prospect, and I believe it will fundamentally change the way we live, work, and move about our cities.