Toyota has just agreed around $350,000 funding to Cartivator, a group of 30 young Japanese enthusiasts – working with drone expert Masafumi Miwa from Tokushima University – who have spent the last few years developing their flying vehicle, called Skydrive.
“We had already approached Toyota several times, so we were very happy that we finally made it,” Cartivator’s Ryutaro Mori told Digital Trends – adding that the cash will mainly go toward the purchase of parts and components for their three-wheel flying vehicle.
According to the timeline on the Cartivator website, the goal is to use Skydrive to light the Olympic flame at the opening of the Tokyo Games in 2020!
The final version of the single-seat Skydrive is expected to measure around 1.3 x 2.9 metres and Mori described it as “the world’s smallest flying car that will help people take off and land anywhere.”
The first test flight is planned for early next year. The VTOL vehicle will use drone technology to take off and land, has a projected flight-speed maximum of 62 mph, and will cruise at around 10 metres in the air when not driving on the road.
According to the timeline on the Cartivator website, the goal is to use Skydrive to light the Olympic flame at the opening of the Tokyo Games in 2020!