University of Miami College of Engineering Launches Consortium to Make Flying Cars a Reality for Commuters

­To transform the way we commute and live, the University of Miami College of Engineering launched the Miami Engineering Autonomous Mobility Initiative (MEAMI), a consortium of world-class academic, industry, and government partners.

MEAMI researchers are developing next-generation electric vertical takeoff/landing (eVTOL) air vehicles–flying cars, essentially building on research funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the National Science Foundation, NASA, and other major government agencies.

Participating in MEAMI are industry leaders Eve Air Mobility, Aeroauto, and Ryder System, along with nonprofit leaders such as The Beacon Council. The consortium enjoys support from prominent public sector partners as well such as the Departments of Energy, Education, and Transportation.

MEAMI aims to advance autonomous mobility technology and anticipate challenges to implementation in today’s cities, making this staple of science fiction a part of our daily lives. Applications are plentiful—from air taxis, to assisting in quick transport of patients to hospitals, to rapid transit from busy downtown areas to the airport. Additionally, autonomous mobility will also be applied for surface transport aspects—addressing shipping of goods and people.

The consortium will investigate the many aspects of autonomous mobility, including advanced propulsion, sensing, integration of satellite signals with local sensing, artificial intelligence, clean energy and energy storage, and advanced materials, with prominent faculty members leading the way. In addition, issues of safety, air traffic control, regulatory aspects related to noise, cybersecurity, and other relevant matters will also be addressed by the Consortium.

This initiative will work on five verticals focused on the next two years: Advanced Technological Development, Operations, Regulations and Safety, Public Relations, Development, and Advancement.

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