Most Read This Week: Will.i.am-Backed Flying Car Gets OK to Fly in Italy, Bill Gates Backs Self-Driving Company

Here are the most read stories on IoT World Today this week:

Will.i.am-Backed Flying Car Certified to Fly in Italy

The flying vehicle company funded by singer, songwriter and technology entrepreneur Will.i.am has been certified to fly in Italy.

The Jetson One eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle received certification as the first eVTOL in the ultralight category, allowing pilots to fly the electric aerial vehicle (EAV) in uncontrolled airspace in Italy, according to the company.

Aero Club d'Italia (AeCI) issued its first registration certificate for a recreational ultralight eVTOL.

Read more about the Jetson One eVTOL and see it in action >>>

Bill Gates Backs Self-Driving Company Glydways

Autonomous transport company Glydways has confirmed a series B funding round of $56 million – with one particularly high-profile investor on board.

Among those providing capital for the San Francisco start-up is Bill Gates’ venture investment fund Gates Frontier, which was listed among other investors including New Science Ventures, Khosla Ventures and Spanish construction company ACS Group.

The latest funding brought the money raised by Glydways to more than $70 million since it was founded in 2016.

Read more about Gates’ investment and Glydways plans >>>

Electric Air Taxi Lands at Air Force Base, Home of Air Force 1

An electric aerial vehicle (EAV) landed at a Maryland Air Force base on the way to Florida from Burlington, Vermont, this week.

The Alia electric aircraft from Beta Technologies landed at Joint Base Andrews during its multi-stop trip on the way to Florida.

Beta recently installed aircraft electric charging stations at Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle to service the coming test of its electric flying vehicles there.
See the Alia electric aircraft’s journey to Joint Base Andrews >>>

Hyundai Flying Vehicle Company, Honeywell Team for Pilotless eVTOLs

The Hyundai flying vehicle company developing eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicles and Honeywell announced they are collaborating to develop a ground control station to enable the vehicles to be test flown without pilots on board.

The Honeywell ground control station operation would allow for the remote test operation of advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles.

Pilots on the ground would monitor and command the aircraft beyond-visual-line-of-sight operation while also accessing real-time aircraft data.

Find out more about the partnership’s plans >>>

Electric Air Taxis Launching in Dubai by 2026

The three-year time frame to launch electric air taxis in Dubai has been solidified in a new announcement.

The 2026 launch date had been a previous target but now the air stations and design are approved.

“From the World Government Summit today we approved the design of the new air taxi stations in Dubai, which will begin operating within three years,” said Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. 

Discover more about Dubai’s autonomous flight plans >>>