I promised to look into new modes of transportation or energy supply for economical and sustainable transportation that has less human casualties. In the previous notes, I explained that every year millions of people are killed and injured directly or indirectly due to traffic accidents or environmental effects caused by transportation activities. I try to mention the role of artificial intelligence in finding new methods of transportation and optimizing existing methods in transportation systems. In the previous number 1, I mentioned one of the SBSP energy supply methods or space base solar energy.

In this issue, I will discuss one of the new methods of transportation that will complement or replace the current methods in the future. Because the current methods cannot continue in the same way; Both in terms of the consumption of fossil fuels, which will destroy the environment, and in terms of efficiency and low speed, as well as the high rate of human casualties.

Expanding sustainable transportation methods, especially in low-income communities, is a solution to foster human growth and social development. For example, in rural Morocco, when rural roads became more accessible, girls' enrollment in primary schools increased from 17% to 54%. In Lima, the capital of Peru, a new subway line was built in poor areas, creating thousands of jobs for people living in these areas.

Transportation offers people new opportunities for jobs, education, health care, and other opportunities, but transportation in current ways imposes heavy costs on people and the planet, with the poorest countries and communities paying the most.

To break this cycle, we must fundamentally change the way people and goods move and use new modes of transportation.

Transportation is one of the main factors of the climate crisis.

Globally, the transportation industry produces about 20% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions globally. With the rapid expansion of urbanization and the use of various means of transportation in low- and middle-income countries, the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by global transportation can increase by 60% by 2050.

Transportation infrastructure is expanding rapidly in low- and middle-income communities to meet the needs of a growing population. It is critical that new transportation investments prioritize carbon-free transportation solutions. Decarbonization of transportation is one of the development priorities of societies and countries.

Air pollution, of which greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause, kills 3.7 million people annually in low-income or middle-income countries. As I mentioned earlier, quoting the World Health Organization, accidents caused by transportation kill 1,350,000 people annually, 93% of whom live in underdeveloped or developing countries.

In many low- and middle-income countries, communities living in peri-urban areas face multiple social and economic disadvantages due to the high costs of vehicle ownership and the lack of low-cost transportation alternatives.

New methods of transportation

Various methods have been proposed for faster, less dangerous and less expensive transportation, which are more compatible with the environment at the same time. Some of these projects have passed the design and even production stages and are conducting test flights.

Air taxis

Flying taxis or air taxis are probably one of the first means of transportation that will change the traditional face of this industry.

Miriam Webster's definition of air taxi has written: "A small commercial aircraft used for short flights between areas not served by scheduled airlines."2

The important point in this definition is to cover areas by air taxis that are not covered by existing and usual airlines. In fact, it can be said that according to this definition, air taxis are a kind of complement to airlines.

Despite the existing challenges, drones and flying taxis are expected to play an essential role in transportation, especially in urban transportation, in the future. Advances in technology, decreasing costs, and increasing regulations will help promote the use of these technologies in the coming years. The widespread use of flying taxis can have profound effects on our daily lives. Among these effects, the following can be mentioned.

Potential benefits of air taxis

Reducing traffic: In fact, it can be said that air taxis transfer traffic from the street level to the top of the city and thus help to reduce it at the city level.

Pollution reduction: By using electric motors, greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution can be significantly reduced. Unlike airplanes and helicopters, as well as buses, air taxis use electricity as propulsion, which is much cleaner and greener than fossil fuels.

Increasing the speed of transportation: flying taxis can take passengers to their destinations faster than traditional vehicles. Now in many big cities, people use helicopters to move quickly. With the popular use of air taxis, this is on them.

Easier Access: Air taxis can provide transportation services to remote areas that are difficult to access.

Economic development: By moving people to remote areas or transporting goods from remote areas to urban areas, flying taxis can develop remote areas.

Reducing commuting time: People can devote more time to other activities such as recreation or relaxation and creativity.

Change in residence patterns: People can live in places further away from their workplace. This issue is important because housing prices in big cities are increasing day by day and many people with normal incomes can no longer live in the city where they work. Therefore, they can go to their workplace with these air birds during the day and return to the nearby cities and towns at night, which are cheaper.

Development of job opportunities: New jobs will be created in the field of construction, repair and maintenance of flying taxis.

Challenges facing flying taxis

However, flying taxi technology and industry has its risks and challenges. These challenges are aggravated by the fact that the infrastructure for the use of this technology has not yet been built in different countries. The main challenges facing this industry can be categorized as follows.

Safety: Ensuring the safety of flying taxis, especially in densely populated areas, is an important challenge. In a world where artificial birds are added day by day and all kinds of military and especially commercial drones fly in the skies of cities, along with traditional birds such as airplanes and helicopters, and even live birds, it is relatively difficult to maintain the security of air taxis. At the same time, these aerial birds can be attacked by hackers and other vandals.

Rules and Regulations: Due to the newness of this technology, the rules and regulations for the use and navigation of these birds have not yet been formulated. It is necessary that the international aviation organizations on the one hand and the legislative assemblies of the countries in close interaction with the experts in the field of small artificial birds on the other hand formulate the rules and regulations of this field.

Infrastructure: When we hear the word infrastructure, we mainly think of physical things like buildings, airports, runways, etc. But nowadays, especially in this industry, the infrastructure is mostly software. Although vertical takeoff and landing locations and battery charging devices are still physical, it's the apps that handle many of the passenger-related tasks. The major transport company Uber has already developed an application for traveling with air taxis through which users can call the company's electric air taxis.

The electricity supply required by these birds and the batteries that can provide power with a single charge for an acceptable amount of time are among the highlights of these infrastructures.

 Price: Due to the newness of this technology, the price or rent of flying taxis may not be affordable for many people. But with the expansion of its use like other vehicles, the cost of using it will be balanced. Unlike private airplanes or helicopters, which only the wealthy can use as a means of transportation, it seems that air taxis will be considered as public transportation, and this will require balancing the cost to the common people. .

In the future, I will mention other areas of technology and especially the role of artificial intelligence in it.