https://www.frontiersin.org/ar…389/fbuil.2020.00106/full
In recent years, our surface transportation infrastructure is suffering from overuse, extreme traffic congestion, and roadway disrepair. Instead of following the traditional infrastructure expansion policy, current transportation research focuses on developing innovative and novel solutions to the aforementioned issues. Current pathways to overcoming these issues include the gradual transition toward a number of emerging transportation technologies, such as, autonomous motor vehicles for human transport, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's) and “drone” technologies for surveillance, and package deliveries. However, as a long-term solution, transportation scientists are also investigating the once-seemingly futuristic notion of flying car technology—a convergent form of ground/air vehicle transportation, and assessing associated regulations. In this paper, an extensive review of current literature is conducted to explore the technological capabilities of flying cars—each requiring appropriate regulations and governance—to become fully sustainable. Specifically, issues pertinent to training, safety, environment, navigation, infrastructure, logistics/sustainability, and cybersecurity and human factors are explored. This paper concludes with a preliminary quantitative analysis exploring the public perceptions associated with flying cars—including anticipated benefits, concerns, and willingness to both hire and acquire the technology once available to consumers. Insights offered by this data will help inform next-generation policies and standards associated with the gradual advancement of flying cars.
Introduction
The “Transportation network of Tomorrow” has long been a topic of discussion and debate, with numerous forward-thinking possibilities [e.g., Hyperloop and Personal Rapid Transit; (Cunningham, 2017)]. Since the depictions of flying cars were mostly confined in the science fiction movies, the notion of a real “Flying Car” has long-seemed nearer to science fiction than science fact. However, recent technological advances are slowly bringing these capabilities closer to reality (Covington, 2018). The surmised advantages of a Flying Car network are many, as it effectively combines ideal characteristics of both planes and cars. Specifically, a Flying Car is much more maneuverable and would be less susceptible to traffic jams while traversing three dimensional airspace as compared to two dimensional ground-based roadways (Soffar, 2018). However, regardless of the superior transportation capabilities likely to be offered by this technology, the widespread adoption of flying cars will be predominantly shaped by public perception. Evaluation and statistical analysis of public perception toward a forthcoming transportation technology pose significant methodological challenges in terms of unobserved heterogeneity and temporal instability (Mannering and Bhat, 2014; Mannering et al., 2016; Fountas et al., 2018; Mannering, 2018). A number of recent studies have demonstrated that people's perception toward potential benefits and concerns from the future use of flying cars, as well as the associated safety and security issues are multifaceted, and influenced by a broad range of socio-demographic factors (Eker et al., 2019, 2020a). In addition, whether general population is willing to embrace and pay for flying cars as personal vehicles and/or as a shared mobility service are major research questions that have been investigated as well (Ahmed et al., 2019; Eker et al., 2020b). In addition to survey-based approaches, virtual and/or live motion and simulation (M&S) based approaches are warranted for in-depth investigation of safety-, infrastructure-, sustainability-, environment-, and human factor-specific requirements (as shown in Figure 1).
FIGURE 1
Figure 1. Flying car M&S domains of interest.
In this context, the ongoing evolution of Flying Cars will have profound impacts upon various policies and standards that govern future development, test, evaluation, validation, and deployment of the technology (Lineberger et al., 2018). Forecasting existing regulations and establishing appropriate incentives that will serve to standardize and sustain a full-scale Flying Car Transportation network will be required. In the next section, an overview highlighting the applicability and potential impacts of M&S toward the future deployment of flying cars in the existing transportation fleet is presented.
Applicability of M&S and Training Toward Deployment of Flying Cars
Modern technological developments demonstrate that flying cars may be available for commercial use by 2025 (Becker, 2017; Bogaisky, 2018). Many of the associated challenges to sustain the technology will necessitate virtual and/or live M&S for testing and validation. For example, the evolution of flying cars will demand new policies and standards to regulate transition and handoff periods between manual and autonomous vehicle control and the complex transition between ground and flight dynamics (e.g., for takeoffs/landings). Furthermore, new policies and standards will be required to explore the complexities of airborne navigation safety, which will necessitate both computational M&S for virtual testing and physical M&S performed within a live setting. For the latter, prototyping (e.g., within a “drone dome” enclosure; refer to Figure 2) must be leveraged to emulate a functional miniature-scale infrastructure for forecasted flying car transport modes. Flying car deployment will likewise have profound impacts on training, which will demand novel regulations for safe operational and maintenance procedures. The ongoing development of flying car technologies will enable next-generation training methods within related technological domains, including: (a) pilot training and certification, (b) repair/service/upgrade procedures, (c) connected/automated vehicles, including advanced robotics and sensor fusion, and (d) machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Lastly, human response to autonomous features of next-generation transport modes remains uncertain. Through application of M&S, an improved understanding of the complex human factors associated with flying cars is required to manifest policies and standards that will govern future operation. Ultimately—human behavioral patterns ascertained (e.g., via human behavior models and simulations) in conjunction with live/virtual testing to explore the human-machine interface can be leveraged to clarify the infrastructure challenges associated with real-world deployment.
FIGURE 2
Figure 2. Flying car drone dome testing.
In this paper, we present an extensive overview of the capabilities and requirements for actionable regulations and governance for flying car technology to advise and dictate future test, evaluation, validation, and deployment of the technology. A brief forecast of the primary issues pertinent to key M&S domains of interest includes:
Safety
The most critical segment of flying car operation will be ground/air transitions (takeoff/landing), which will demand NAS/FAA regulation, and suitable governance for an integrated (rather than segregated) airspace. Another critical aspect would be addressing operational challenges and ensuring safety during adverse weather conditions (e.g., heavy rainfall, high wind, snowstorm, etc.).
Pilot Training and Certification
For both manual and autonomous flying cars, the vehicle operator (or pilot), and the air/ground-based support systems (maintenance) will require appropriate certifications and governance.
Infrastructure
Flying cars will require regulations for “vertiports” (takeoff/landing facilities) for land/air transitions, and this in turn, will dictate policies and standards for vertical takeoffs and landings operational features.
Environment
Governance must be mandated (e.g., NASA UAM) to ensure environmentally conscious best practices for flying cars. For instance, fully electrical powered operation, minimum operational noise, and minimum greenhouse gas emission.
Logistics and Sustainability
Flying cars will require sustainable legal standards for operation, maintenance, control, and step-by-step adoption (e.g., as emergency vehicles, as a mode of ridesharing service, and as consumer vehicle).
Cybersecurity
Flying cars will be highly automated, computerized, and likely be connected to encrypted network for navigational purposes. Such a system will mandate policies for safeguarding against cybercrimes (e.g., unauthorized remote access through Trojans and malwares, DDoS attacks preventing network access).
Human Factors
Human preferences and attitudes will direct and dictate flying car sustenance, including financial (i.e., acquisition expenses; willingness to hire), operational benefits/concerns, and anticipated Use Case scenarios.
We begin with an overview of policies and standards related to safety (i.e., operational; mechanical)—a foremost concern for establishing and maintaining flying car sustainability.
