New Self-Flying Cars Course for Engineers

This image provided by Joby Aviation shows the conceptual design of the Joby S2 Electric VTOL PAV aircraft. Even before George Jetson entranced kids with his flying car, people dreamed of soaring above traffic congestion. Inventors and entrepreneurs have tried and failed to make the dream a reality, but that may be changing. Nearly a dozen companies around the globe, some of them with deep pockets like Airbus, are working to develop personal aircraft that let people hop over crowded roadways. Joby Aviation via AP

Software engineers in Australia will have the opportunity to upgrade their qualifications and learn how to pilot unmanned cars.

The Royal Melbourn Institute of Technology (RMIT), Australia, in partnership with the California-based Udacity, will be offering a new nanodegree in futuristic next-generation self-driving cars, which will be an expansion of their existing transport technology courses.

The new course will be called “Flying Car And Autonomous Flight Engineer,” and it will run over four months with engineers learning skills like quad-rotor dynamics and 3D robot motion control.

The course will cost $2000 (US$1282), and the nano degree will be certified and credited by RMIT and Udacity, which have five years of experience in autonomous vehicle courses.

Nic Cola, the online chief executive of RMIT, told AAP that this course will give engineers the skills to explore a market that has big potential to take off.

“We’re really leaning into the future skills that Australians will need, particularly software engineers going forward, and what options are available to them,” said Cola.

“We know there’s a lot of investment going into that space in Australia and some good providers in that space.”

In addition to this course, there will be three other online courses at RMIT, which are deep learning, artificial intelligence and ethical hacking.

Udacity is an online education platform based in Mountain View, California, USA, that offers a variety of tech-focused courses and programs aimed at providing individuals with practical skills and knowledge for careers in fields such as programming, data science, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and more.

The platform was founded in 2012 by Sebastian Thrun, David Stavens, and Mike Sokolsky with the goal of making high-quality education more accessible and relevant to the demands of the rapidly changing job market.

Preparing For Urban Air Mobility

The course is a result of forecasts that the flying taxis ’market will be worth $2.3 trillion by 2040, and in Australia, they are expected to arrive as early as 2026.

However, U.S. investment company Morgan Stanley believes that the so-called urban air mobility industry will be valued even higher at $4.4 trillion.

In Australia, the buzz around flying cars came out in 2019 when Uber published the news that they will have flying rides by 2023 in Melbourne, but in 2020 they sold their stake in the market.

Sydney Seaplanes and Nautilus Aviation also announced recently that they are looking to join the club, with the former planning flights around the city and the latter promising flights above the Great Barrier Reef with vertical take-off-and-landing (VTOL) vehicles in 2026.

At Sydney’s Avalon Air Show, another company Pegasus International, based in Melbourne, also showed off their new VTOL aircraft, which has been earmarked for use by the Australian police force.

Matus Cvengros, an aeronautical engineer trained in Australia and Sweden and currently working in AMSL Aero, a Sydney-based air mobility company, said that this training opportunity is very important for the new industry.

“I believe a course focused on advanced air mobility can empower students to do the first steps, propelling Australia’s aerospace industry forward,” Cvengros said.

“A strong foundation can give you an edge.”

What Are Nanodegrees

“Nanodegree“ is a term coined by Udacity to describe a specific type of online learning program that focuses on providing practical and job-ready skills in various fields of technology and business.

The degrees have gained popularity due to their practical approach to learning and the ability to provide learners with tangible skills that are directly applicable to the job market.

Nanodegrees are designed to be relatively short and intensive, typically taking a few months to complete, making them accessible for individuals who want to quickly acquire new skills and enhance their career prospects.

Key features of the nanodegrees include:

Focused Curriculum: Nanodegree programs are centred around specific topics or industries, such as web development, data science, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, etc. The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and practical skills relevant to the industry.

Project-Based Learning: A significant portion of the learning in Nanodegree programs is project-based. Learners work on hands-on projects that simulate real-world scenarios, allowing them to apply the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired in a practical context.

Mentorship and Feedback: Many Nanodegree programs provide learners with access to mentors or experts who can guide them through the learning process. Learners can ask questions, seek clarification, and receive feedback on their projects and assignments.

Industry Collaboration: Udacity often collaborates with industry partners to design its nanodegree programs. This ensures that the content is up-to-date and aligned with industry standards, increasing the relevance of the skills learned.

What is Urban Air Mobility

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) refers to the concept of using advanced aerial vehicles, often including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to provide on-demand and efficient transportation solutions within urban and suburban environments.

The concept of UAM dates back over a century ago (the early 1900s) and envisions a future where people and goods can be transported through the airspace above cities, reducing congestion on roads and potentially offering faster point-to-point travel.

There are several specific aspects of Urban Air Mobility.

Electric Propulsion

Many UAM vehicles are designed to be electrically powered, which can reduce emissions and noise pollution compared to traditional combustion engines.

Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL)

UAM vehicles typically have the capability to take off and land vertically, allowing them to operate from confined spaces without the need for traditional runways.

Autonomous Operations

UAM systems often incorporate autonomous or semi-autonomous technology to handle various aspects of flight, such as navigation, obstacle avoidance, and traffic management.

On-Demand Services

Similar to ride-hailing services like Uber, for example, UAM aims to offer on-demand transportation, allowing passengers to request flights as needed.

Point-to-Point Travel

UAM can potentially provide direct transportation between specific locations, reducing the need for multiple transit stops and transfers.

Reduced Congestion

By utilizing the airspace, UAM has the potential to alleviate traffic congestion on roads, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

Time Efficiency

UAM could significantly reduce travel times, especially for routes that are currently affected by traffic congestion.

Infrastructure Development

The success of UAM relies on the development of necessary infrastructure, such as vertiports (airports for vertical take-off and landing) and air traffic management systems specifically designed for low-altitude urban airspace.

Challenges

In addition to the advantages, there are challenges with the UAM, particularly around safety, regulatory approval, noise levels, public acceptance, and integration with existing transportation systems.

The vision for UAM aligns with the broader trend of advancing transportation technologies to create more efficient, sustainable, and convenient ways of moving people and goods within urban environments.