part of it and that i think that that sentiment is shared amongst a lot a lot of people. so it's not only about money it's a david versus goliath fight. they're up to date on d.w. news up next our tech night is in shift omarion and steam from me and the entire news team in berlin thanks for watching. it's about billions. it's about power. it's about the foundation of the new world order the new silk road. china wants to expand its influence with this trade network. but in europe there's a sharp morning when for accept some money from the new superpower will become dependent on going to talk of the state. the chinese state has

a lot of money at its disposal. and that's how it's expanding and asserting its status and position in the world. china's gateway to europe. starts feb 19th on d w. the days were flying cars were a distant dream long gone today companies worldwide designing them so when will we be ready for takeoff topic today on shift. whether it's growing well start ups like in germany developers across the globe want us to take off in electrically powered flying vehicles many cities are choked with traffic in the sky still plenty of room and most of the prototypes are

supposed to be less harmful to the environment so when will flying cars claim the skies and when they really improve our lives here's what experts have to say that. it's hard to predict who will hit cars will go mainstream. or the necessary infrastructure as well as a social acceptance. but i do believe that flying cars will eventually transform our lives you don't know. then got it all. in cities like new york it's all follow shanghai beijing and other places where space is scarce the global it leads people with money want to be able to move around quickly to take creased demand this will probably just be a solution for the mobility problems of a very small percentage of society i'm ability elite fancy speech this for the

super rich that's not what i had in mind in japan they're not just planning for the rich by 2023 japanese megacities want to have commercial sky taxis that's why the government's investing in businesses like sky drive in august 20. the start of the 1st manned test flight by call the cassandra bowl got an exclusive glimpse of what happens inside the secret research center. this is japan's 1st flying car i definitely need to see this and of course fly in it too when i think of flying cars i think of back to the future meet the robinsons and my childhood cartoon the jetson's are saif i imagine nation is now becoming a reality. my team and i began our journey to skydives research center from tokyo

before embarking on this trip we had to sign confidentiality agreements why the secrecy in strictness because the technological details and detesting location are top secret i'm allowed to say this much though we're about 300 kilometers southwest of the capital in the middle of the mountains what a thrill right now i'm standing in front of the are in the center of sky drive and the location is top secret kind of makes me feel like i'm in the james bond movie. or. the air mobility start up was founded in 2012 and is backed up by toyota and behind these doors it's where the magic happens and here is where it's parked drives prototype with 8 little rotors to me the place doesn't immediately scream high tech sadly i'm not allowed to test it without a pilot's license well at least i got to sit in it and it was awesome just time

travel into the future well not literally but the kind of use like it. some experts say flying cars will reduce traffic jams in urban areas lower pollution and save travel time. that's one of about 80 companies worldwide there are currently working on so-called e.v.t. electric vertical takeoff and landing these flying cars run on batteries and we can land and take off from the tiniest bases trouble already exists but it's still very inconvenient our goal is to create a compact and quiet find a vehicle so that people can fly every day little bit. currently the prototypes flight time is limited to 3 to 5 minutes this is supposed to change soon though the developers are hoping that in only 2 years time they're flying cars will be used as

air taxis into our ism or for emergency medical services but there are still a number of technical obstacles left to overcome. this will provide greater safety but when you increase the number of motors you have to build a bigger heavier so the goal is to figure out the right number of motors in order to assure safety but at the same time keep the aircraft as compact as possible yes . it's a fine balance test pilot toshio on though tells me that for this year the next milestone for the project is already in the works launching the 2 seater to fire across tokyo bay and one of these i can't even begin to imagine oh this has been quite a journey i learned a lot about flying cars and i even got to sit on warren but let's be clear the ultimate goal for these vehicles is autonomy and until that happens there

are a number of technical obstacles that we have to overcall and even more importantly these projects. depend heavily on public acceptance if you'd like to see what else because sandra bullock has been up to check out you tube channel sky drives model is made for air travel but hybrids go a step further travelling in the air and on roads sounds great there's just one she was obstacle for many of these ideas in the need runway the dutch company pal v.a. is coming close their vehicle has already been approved for roll to traffic at a top speed of 160 kilometers an hour it could turn some heads when it's propellers unfolded the pell vetoes into a gyrocopter but along with a driver's license and the pilot's license you need 300000 euros in the bank. most flying car models are made for traffic but work like helicopters or drones they're

called even the stands for electric and vital means vertical takeoff and landing and they're quite spectacular check this out. is this the mobility of the future these prototypes are electrically powered aircraft that can hover take off and land vertically they're called multi copters or evie tolls so which company will bring the 1st model to market global players like airbus and boeing have already joined the race as have startups like volvo copter from germany. to digital. technology is really very simple which allows you to build a vehicle. with muscle. cars are other than just the fact that they're really quiet mission free and easy for time. but so far

none of these sky taxis can fly longer than about 20 minutes. for safety reasons though they need to be able to remain airborne 30 minutes longer than their longest trip. current battery technology just isn't up to that. bad weather is another obstacle even tolls can't fly in strong wind or heavy rain still their developers believe these flying vehicles will revolutionize mobility and sooner than we might think. governments will also have to give them the green light germany's transport ministry seems open to the idea quite interesting and see sky taxis become a reality here in germany in 2017 we passed new regulations governing the use of drones and unmanned aircraft the next step would be to institute regulations specifically take it to sky taxis for the most part this will happen on the

european level. so how exactly will this work perhaps sky taxis will fly set routes and use clearly defined landing spots on skyscrapers for example to handle both manned and unmanned aircraft air traffic control systems will also need to revamp so none of this will happen overnight. that still leaves a lot of open questions like the short flight time of 20 minutes and even those sky taxis won't need paved roads they will need the right infrastructure so when they exactly will fly in vehicles take to the skies aerospace experts define even that believes it will take at least 15 years but who will be flying them leave a dock but they'll be professional pilots very highly skilled and certified. they won't allow the passengers or people on the ground to be exposed to a higher risk than with an ordinary helicopter. over their fathers what is space

infrastructure will be needed. how exactly is going to work to hear things like whether we'll need an external agency that will set the flight routes for example or if that's something that companies because more or less themselves it's all depend on the factors like traffic density and the infrastructure and data connections available to us and how realistic is autonomy is flying at this point in time you think of it in the regulations for transporting parcels already quite rigorous you depended on the size. well the economy aircraft there will be a lot of rules for instance union fighter relations system to ensure an aircraft with technical problems doesn't crash into residential areas so we're still being laid off from the human passengers aboard. most developers aiming for autonomy sky taxis even if they're still a long way to go no pilot also saves money and space at this year's c.e.'s general

motors gave us a preview this video by g.m. is still a simulation but the u.s. car maker hopes it cadillac e.-v. toll will soon become a reality the electric and autonomous flying car is designed for short commutes in urban areas. this model has room for a single passenger but general motors is also developing a 2 seater for the 1st and last mile passengers can switch to an autonomous road cadillac. a year earlier at c.e.'s south korean car manufacturer presented a similar vision of the future. taxi that takes off and lands vertically after a test phase with a pilot this flying taxi with room for 5 passengers would eventually be autonomous . passengers could switch to a car or transfer to another taxi flying taxis clouding the skies whether it is

transport taxis it's clear that we need to think about what the future will bring a recent survey in germany found just 18 percent of the population could imagine commuting with flying taxis just over 50 percent would be willing to use sky taxis in emergencies for myself i'd be keen to test a prototype so what's your take could you imagine taking this guy takes you to work where do you think it's not safe. on you tube facebook dot com that's all for today . they care and. the.

passengers here are in for the ride. drivers here need nerves of steel. while passengers here can get an eyeful along the way. taxis accommodate passengers all over the world. drug policy or. read. what i subscribe to do w. books your favorite writer seems to see myself as the cam sky and the strange grown up world over your books on you tube. you know globalized world. where everything is connected. takes discoursed to set things in

motion. local hero show called their ideas can change the world. global 3000. on d w. we are living during the most.