The future of Uber, Lyft, and other ride-hailing services has arrived, literally. Meet the Arrival Car prototype. This electric vehicle was developed from the ground up in just 6-months with the help of Uber drivers and focuses on cost, uptime, driver comfort, safety, as well as convenience. Read more for two videos, additional pictures and information.
We imagine on-demand food deliveries becoming a regular occurrence once space tourism really kicks off, but Uber Eats teamed up with Japanese entrepreneur and delivery superfan, Yusaku Maezawa, to complete the first delivery to the International Space Station. In the package was ready-to-eat canned Japanese dishes for the astronauts to enjoy during his 12-day orbit.
Photo credit: SHoP Architects
Uber’s announced today that it is planning to start delivering fast food by drone in San Diego this summer, but it won’t be coming straight to your doorstep. That’s right, there will be “designated safe landing zones,” like roofs, parked cars, or in the future skyports, where Uber couriers will unload the package by hand and take it to your front door. How much will this cost you? Expect to pay the regular fees, which average $8.50 in San Diego, and since McDonald’s is an early partner, special delivery packages arrive piping hot, fries and all. Read more for two additional videos of proposed skyports.
The Great Barrier Reef is a highly touted bucket-list destination that stretches more than 1,400 miles off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Home to more than 1,600 species of fish and 600 different types of coral, it’s the perfect vacation spot, and now, scUber offers a new way to explore it. The Queensland government and Uber announced the launch of scUber, the world’s first rideshare submarine. Users can either book a trip through the Uber app from Gladstone starting May 27 or Cairns on June 9 until June 18. Priced at $3,000 AUD (about $2,060 USD), it includes round-trip transfers in a Tesla; a scenic helicopter ride to and from Heron Island or the Quicksilver Cruises pontoon just off the coast of Port Douglas; and an hour-long ride in the scUber for two. Read more for a selection of interesting images from around the web.
Uber’s autonomous vehicle unit has just received a $1-billion investment from a coalition of investors comprised of SoftBank Group Corp ($333-million) and Toyota / Denso ($667-million) ahead of its public stock offering, valuing the division at $7.25-billion. “This investment and our strong partnership with the Toyota Group are a testament to the incredible work of our ATG team to date, and the exciting future ahead for this important project, alongside great partners. The development of automated driving technology will transform transportation as we know it, making our streets safer and our cities more livable. Today’s announcement, along with our ongoing OEM and supplier relationships, will help maintain Uber’s position at the forefront of that transformation,” said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Read more for another video of Uber’s self-driving car technology and additional information.
Photo credit: Imgur
One Reddit user recently showcased their makeshift game console system in the backseat of their Uber rideshare vehicle, and it quickly gained internet stardom. How does it work? Well, the system consists of a 2016 Samsung Galaxy Tab, an SF30 Pro bluetooth gaming controller and then the Arc Browser gaming emulator, all secured to a Headrest Bar Mount. Read more for a short video and additional pictures.
Uber is using CES 2019 to showcase its vision for a future of on-demand air travel, and it plans to roll out air taxis, which appear to be a cross between a helicopter and a giant drone, by 2023. Designed by Textron’s Bell division, the Bell Nexus is powered by a hybrid-electric propulsion system in a bid for more efficient air travel. The Uber Air service will begin in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as well as Los Angeles in about four years, with an international market that has yet to be announced. Read more for another video from the CES 2019 show floor, pictures and additional information.
Anthony Levandowski, a former Google and Uber engineer, has completed what he claims is the first US coast-to-coast drive completed entirely by self-driving technology. The 3,099 mile journey between San Francisco and New York was made in October, with him only taking charge of his vehicle to refuel and stop overnight. “I’ve admittedly grown frustrated – and at times impatient – with the industry’s inability to deliver on its promises,” said Levandowski. Read more for a time-lapse video of his journey and additional information.
The Lilium Jet Air Taxi could hit the skies before its previously announced launch of 2025, as it has already completed its maiden flight tests. This was originally planned to be sold as a private aircraft, but this all-electric VTOL aircraft is now designed for Uber-like air taxi services. Read more for another video and additional information.