Uber signs contract with Nasa to develop flying taxi software

Ambitious plans for electric drone-like flying cabs take step forward as Uber announces plans to test flights in LA in 2020

Uber has taken a step forward in its plan to make autonomous “flying taxis” a reality, signing a contract with Nasa to develop the software to manage them.

The company’s chief product officer, Jeff Holden, announced the new service contract at Web Summit in Lisbon, alongside its intention to begin testing four-passenger, 200mph UberAir flying taxi services across Los Angeles in 2020, its second test market in the US after Dallas.