News

Wisk Aero Unveils Four-Seat Autonomous Air Taxi

The Boeing-backed startup hopes that with FAA certification, it will soon be able to launch a viable air taxi service.

Published

2 years ago

October 5, 2022

Nour Nasir

Wisk Aero

Wisk Aero may not yet be a household name, but the company has been around since 2019, and has just unveiled its 6th generation aircraft — a small electric 4-seat machine that can fly without any form of human intervention.

The company was originally a joint venture involving Boeing, and the now defunct flying taxi startup Kitty Hawk, initially funded by Google co-founder Larry Page. The Wisk plane is currently seeking FAA approval for passenger testing and will be the first ever electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) plane to receive certification.

Wisk’s latest design is unusual, featuring 6 five-bladed front rotors that can be tilted horizontally or vertically and the same arrangement at the rear (albeit two-bladed and fixed vertically). The plane has a cruising speed of 120 knots, combined with a 90-mile (140KM) range, and flies at a low altitude of 2.5 to 4 thousand feet.

So what does the future hold for Wisk’s autonomous air taxi? Eventually, the company hopes that clients will be able to hail the aircraft via a bespoke app, in a similar manner to an Uber. The plane will take off and land vertically, making it perfect for city applications, where it could easily launch and land from the rooftops of high-rise buildings.

Also Read: Airbus Has Revealed Its CityAirbus NextGen Flying Taxi

Weight remains a big issue for electric aircraft, due to the hefty mass of the batteries that need to be carried. Aviation fuel has a far better power-to-weight ratio than even the most modern lithium-ion batteries, so it remains tricky to make aircraft like Wisk’s viable. Wisk Aero has made encouraging progress so far and maintains the ambitious goal of carrying out 14 million taxi journeys in 20 global markets over the next five years.

News

Flowwow Reveals AI-Powered Rebrand, Blending Tech With Emotion

The new look includes a redesigned logo, AI-driven visuals, and upgraded packaging, reflecting aims for further expansion.

Published

18 hours ago

October 17, 2024

Nour Nasir

flowwow reveals ai-powered rebrand blending tech with emotion

Flowwow, a UAE-based gifting marketplace that partners with local shops in more than 30 countries, has introduced a refreshed brand identity, built by merging artificial intelligence with human creativity. The rebranding includes a redesigned logo, AI-driven visuals, and upgraded packaging, reflecting the company’s evolving position in the gifting sector.

Flowwow’s CEO and Co-founder, Slava Bogdan, explained: “From our roots as a flower delivery service, Flowwow has evolved into a marketplace for gifts and emotions in over 30 countries. [Our] strategic vision has become the cornerstone of our rebranding. Flowwow remains the platform that blends the best of both worlds: the personal touch of local entrepreneurs and the convenience of cutting-edge technology. We’ve redefined the gifting experience, making it effortless, enjoyable, and truly personal”.

flowwow rebrand design

The company has utilized AI to break away from conventional design limitations, resulting in a more dynamic and engaging brand presence. By leveraging Midjourney’s neural networks, Flowwow generated thousands of images to assist designers in ideating the new identity, accelerating the creative process by up to 20%.

As part of its rebranding, Flowwow aims to expand into a full-service global gifting platform, offering both innovation and convenience. Recognizing the potential of e-gifting in the MENA region, Flowwow is planning to onboard additional local vendors while expanding product lines to over 25 categories to suit regional preferences, including pastries, indoor plants, fragrances, hamper boxes, and home decor.

Also Read: Adobe Releases Firefly Generative AI Video Tools In Beta

The company is also committed to supporting local businesses, working with SMEs to drive economic growth in the MENA region’s burgeoning e-commerce sector. Research indicates that the UAE’s gifting market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.7% through 2029, while the overall e-commerce market will rise by 8.63% annually, reaching $10.56 billion by the same year.

Flowwow aims to capitalize on this growth by expanding further into the MENA region and further afield by 2024-2025.