US-based flying taxi firm Vimana Global has conducted a prototype trial of its autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) in Dubai prior to its launch in the emirate, its CEO has said.

“We are at the starting point of the mutual collaboration including feasibility study with the local authorities in Dubai to undertake and deploy blockchain aerospace platform prior to its launch in 2020 here and in some other cities,” said Evgeni Borisov, founder and CEO, Vimana Global in comments published by Logistics Middle East.

“We keep Dubai on top of the list because the emirate has broken the ice in smart urban mobility. The government here is taking the mobility to next stage from 2D mobility to 3D mobility,” Borisov added.

In 2017, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority made history with the launch of an autonomous flying taxi in an aerial test.

The two-seater autonomous aerial vehicle was developed by German drone firm Volocopter and was capable of transporting people without human intervention or a pilot.

Borisov says his AAV will have logistics drone applications as well as use as an urban flying taxi.

“Cargo delivery is, of course, a major potential sector for this in Dubai, that’s why we are developing the cargo prototype for use in select destinations. It’s going to take some time, I see it being deployed in this role within the next five years,” he told Logistics Middle East.