Do you remember The Jetsons? a fairy tale about a future’s family created in the early 1960s by Hanna-Barbera or a speeder from STAR WARS? Is fiction becoming reality again? Mobility solutions have evolved very drastically. Personal transport has risen above all else, and this is how e-bikes, boards and electric scooters were born. This is probably not the end and in the coming years we will be able to observe other innovative ideas of young visionaries who pump their ideas into the real world.
One such idea is the Jetson One, an electric powered vertical take-off and landing vehicle. For now, it is adapted to short routes, but in the future it may evolve and who knows, maybe longer ranges will also come into play. It is a Polish-Swedish start-up, where the founder, designer and CTO of the company is a Pole, Tomasz Patan.
Jetson One is powered by eight electric motors with a total power of 118 hp. It accelerates to a maximum speed of 102 km/h in the air (the speed has been electronically limited) and reaches a height of 1.5 km. The flight time is up to 20 minutes on a single charge. Short? and yes and no, but it’s enough to cover short distances – and that’s what it’s all about for now. It is designed for one passenger, which is also the pilot. A person must not weigh more than 95 kg. It is one of the first structures of this type in the world to go beyond the prototype phase and enter the production phase.
How do we drive it? with the three-axis joystick, the height lever and the accelerator pedal. The machine weighs only 86 kg. What about security? The structure is based on a cage inspired by racing cars – made of aluminum and carbon fiber. It also has an on-board computer that keeps it stable during flight. Additionally, it remains safe even with the loss of one engine. The vehicle also has a quick-deployment ballistic parachute, as well as lidar sensors that help it observe the terrain and avoid obstacles.
Let’s get to the price: $ 92,000.
How will they deliver it to us? Almost like IKEA. Partially assembled, the rest we have to put together “at home”. The complete kit comes with all the parts and tools you need, along with detailed building instructions. As a result, in the USA it does not need to be certified and a pilot’s license is not required to operate the vehicle.
12 vehicles are to be built next year and already sold. The company is already accepting orders for 2023.
Take a look at the video and see how it works!