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This futuristic vehicle is actually the latest model in a series of electric aircraft slated to arrive in the skies over the next decade.
The fully autonomous “Invo Moon” offers up to three passengers a 360-degree panorama above and below as it travels at speeds of up to 250mph.
Crucially, it has been designed to be nearly silent, utilizing a flight system concealed inside its shell, rather than relying on noisy exposed propellers common among its competitors.
The £280,000 aircraft – with a size and weight comparable to a small family car – will be capable of movement in any direction, in a manner similar to a handheld drone.
The engineer stated in an interview with the Daily Mail that the design was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s drawings from over five centuries ago.
by the close of the decade.
He stated that future owners could potentially run it as an Uber when not in use, thus earning money ‘while sitting at home’.
The government announced last year that it expects flying taxis to become a common sight in British skies by 2028 – and possibly operate without a pilot as early as 2030.
Ministers established far-reaching goals to restructure current rules and support networks, with technology predicted to increase the UK’s economy by £45 billion by the end of the decade.
The Invo Moon, which has a diameter of 16ft and a weight of 2,500lb, is available for pre-order for £2,000 and will have a final cost of approximately £280,000 upon delivery.
Despite this, Mr. Kayali believes the vehicles – which he stated should be affordable to manufacture on a large scale – could be sold for under £50,000 in the future.
While most electric flying vehicles rely on visible propellers, the Invo Moon keeps everything contained within its aluminium frame.
The vehicle employs a sophisticated novel aerodynamic design with a dozen motors, each featuring spinning spheres, situated in a curved formation alongside the vehicle.
Featuring these motors in sets of four simultaneously, it can rotate 360 degrees in any direction, rendering it without a discernible front or rear end. To touch down or land, these units deploy three retractable support legs.
Navdeep Kayali noted that this implies there is a very minimal vibration, causing the device to release no more than 45 decibels – roughly the sound level of light rain pattering.
Most other eVTOLs operate at around 85 decibels, equivalent to the noise of a blender, and also produce excessive wind, he mentioned.
Inside the cabin, there are three rotating and fully adjustable heated seats which provide views out the top and the bottom through the transparent plastic windows.
The “luxury” vehicle will also feature ambient lighting settings, an on-board ice dispenser, and integrated large screens for entertainment.
The vehicle has a maximum range of 300 miles. It can be fully charged to 80 percent in under 30 minutes from 20 percent, Mr. Kayali notes.
Although the design may seem futuristic, it actually draws upon ideas created by Leonardo da Vinci in the late 1400s.
The outside of the design is influenced by the Italian artist’s ‘Armoured Car’ drawings, while the internal mechanism for flight is a fresh interpretation of his ‘aerial screw’ design, which is considered a predecessor to the helicopter.
The driving itself is autonomous and has been designed to follow a three-lane layout similar to an overpass – but mounting vertically rather than horizontally.
The maximum speed limit increases at each progression – from 100mph to 250mph – and the plane can only touch down again once it has reverted to the lowest-speed lane.
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