this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2026
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Flying cars would be limited in altitude and would operate more like taxi drones controlled from the ground in safe zones. There's a startup in Vancouver BC building out this plan. There is no way you are handing flight controls to non pilots, people can barely reverse without hitting something
I am not an expert, I'm just noticing the trends of capitalism and technology, so I could be very wrong.
However, I think autonomous flight only really makes sense in war, and even then, only for cheap drones/payloads. Where the operator doesn't care if life is lost or if accidental destruction happens.
I think if we see autonomous vehicles (of any kind) based on current technology, it will continue to be a disaster and more of a sales gimmick or cost saver than something that is actually useful. With sub standard safety standards and deregulation being common place.
Telsas on full self driving run into school buses with a red blinking stop sign.
Waymos have even more tech and are remote controlled by a cheap outsourced labor force.
I'm really not hopeful unless there is a giant leap in autonomous tech and even then, I'm staying far away.
Tesla doesn't use Lidar, their system is actually just cameras and a prayer. It should never have been called autonomous driving, nor allowed as is.
But roadways are imperfect; Missing markers, faded paint, pedestrians, bikes, dogs, all doing unpredictable things.
We trust our autonomous Skytrain here in Vancouver, because conditions are controlled.
To apply it to air you have predefined routes and craft is forces to follow a predetermined flight plan, but centrally controlled. With a mesh net to other craft in the air.
GPS can be shifty in some areas, so there would also have station navigation, etc to guide the craft. And inter craft checking to get a mastered location.
As for falling out of the sky due to failure, yes, that's a huge problem LOL
And what are the advantages over a tram ?
Not much. We already have the skytrain system here (which is a raised rail system connecting cities and intra city travel) and it also connects to the sea ferries to cross the river, and busses.
So a point to point air travel won't add a whole lot of value in my opinion.