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Can tolerate virtually all faults and errors
The position of each Skycar will be reliably determined by continually cross-checking a variety of information sources, including GPS satellite positioning, VOR radios, radar identification of ground reference points, and broadcasts from other Skycars.
The Skycar's computers will confirm that sensors are operating correctly - this reasonableness check is one of the major tasks for most pilots.
The Skycar will constantly run a computer simulation of its environment to check the reasonableness of its performance and simulate what could happen in the future as a result of its actions or inactions.
Later, the electronic pilot operation will permit the ground controller to be fully aware of the condition and options of the Skycar during an emergency, and to control it directly if necessary from the ground.
Is more flexible than other aircraft
The Skycar has more operational flexibility than other small aircraft - it is designed to be used for all lengths of trips, from the short commute in a congested city to the several thousand mile cross-country trip requiring hops of up to 900 miles between fuel stops.
The Skycar operates under adverse conditions - its compact shape makes it flyable at night, in fog, in most storms, high winds, microbursts, and conditions other light aircraft cannot handle - however, tornadoes, thunderstorms, severe icing, and hurricanes will need to be avoided.
Is quiet
The Skycar's fans inside ducts (nacelles) utilize Moller's patented muffler technology - the Skycar is expected to be as quiet as a delivery truck on takeoff and landing - 70 decibels at 50 feet.
With quick, vertical takeoff and landing, Skycar noise will be heard on the ground for only 10 seconds or less - the Skycar doesn't require long, noisy flight at low altitudes to take off and land as do other aircraft, so it can be used in or near residential areas.
The Skycar can take off and land on a sound-insulated roof, where its low noise won't disturb office workers or apartment/condo residents underneath.
Vibration and noise in the cabin will be at lower levels than for conventional small aircraft - the nacelles are also mufflers, the propulsion system has very few moving parts, and the rotary engines have less vibration than conventional engines - the remaining noise will be reduced by using phase cancellation technology already in use on some commercial aircraft.
Has low pollution and can use alternative fuels
Engines used in Skycars have met the demanding Ultra-Low Emissions Standard of California State without needing any catalytic add-ons.
For trips over 30 miles, the M400 fueled by gasoline will produce 4 times fewer nitrogen oxides that contribute to acid rain, 10 times fewer hydrocarbons that create smog, and 3 times less carbon dioxide that may contribute to global warming. Use of liquid natural gas or liquid hydrogen as fuels would produce even less of these pollutants.
The Skycar would complement environmentally sound, short distance ground transportation systems using nonpolluting bicycles, electric cars, and trucks.
A nation that uses the Skycar as a major transportation vehicle and has abundant sources of non-petroleum fuels could reduce its dependence on foreign oil - over 20 countries have significant amounts of cheap natural gas.
Hydrogen will probably be the best fuel for the Skycar in the future, especially for those regions that can produce it locally - hydrogen does not have to be based on imported fossil fuels, and does not contribute to local pollution or global warming - hydrogen can already be produced for about $3 a gallon from solar energy ($1.50 a gallon from fossil fuels), similar to the price for gasoline plus taxes in some countries.
The Skycar uses fewer resources than the auto - due to use by many more people per day and a longer lifetime, it is expected that a single Skycar during its lifetime will replace 60 autos.
THE M400 SKYCAR - THE TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION
A superior transportation option
The Skycar combines the performance of airplanes and the vertical takeoff and landing capability of helicopters in a single vehicle without the limitations of either.
The Skycar will be used like an automobile, taking you from your home or office in privacy directly to your destination 10 to thousands of miles away.
A Skycar will be dispatched to most passengers from a human piloted commercial air limousine service or, later, an electronically piloted air taxi service - many individuals and companies will, of course, own Skycars.
But with efficient, convenient, and inexpensive travel provided by the commercial air limo or air taxi service, only a few individuals or corporations are expected to choose to own and operate their own Skycars.
Because Skycar economics support fleet-type operations with ride-sharing rather than large-scale individual ownership, 20 times fewer Skycars than autos could serve the same number of people in auto-intensive countries such as the US.
Why there will be only minimal private ownership of Skycars
Operation of numerous Skycars in an area requires close intercommunications and control, best achieved through coordination by a fleet ground controller.
Fleet operations and dispatch eliminates the parking and maintenance hassles of individual ownership, especially for the electronically piloted vehicle.
Few individuals will be able to afford to buy or, more importantly, frequently upgrade their vehicles as new electronics, avionics, and software become available.
Requires no parking at destination
A Skycar air taxi service will require only brief landings, not long-term parking, so modified rooftops, plus some curbside bus stops or passenger loading zones set aside for Skycar use, should provide enough space to accommodate most Skycars in urban areas - some interim and long-term parking areas can be set aside for Skycars on top of parking garages and park-and-ride lots.
To modify their rooftops for Skycars, building owners will have to install landing pads, noise-abatement fencing and insulation, small parking areas, and elevators or staircases.
Not much modification is required because most roofs are built to handle rainwater and snow loads, and noise abatement is already built in to muffle roof machinery such as air conditioning.
Less modification would be required than for helicopters, which are heavier, noisier, and require a larger unobstructed space.
The cost of modified rooftops could be more than recovered by charging landing fees for Skycars.
Supports ride-sharing for commuting and regional travel
The air taxi dispatch system can put people going on the same path or to the same destination into the same Skycar - thus fly-on-demand service will result in dynamic ride-sharing.
Ride-sharing in the Skycar will not require you to change vehicles between journey legs, as do most multi-passenger transit systems - this saves time, of course, and also stress from having to worry about making connections.
Even with the additional time needed to pick up and let off other passengers, the Skycar will still provide a 4 times faster commute than is currently available with the auto, vanpool, or mass transit, except for very short distances.
If the Skycar could eliminate 1% of the car commuters, it would eliminate about 3% of the miles driven - 9% of US commuters who drive long distances now account for 27% of all commuting miles.