LAUTECH graduate designs flying car

A graduate of Computer Science/Engineering of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Mr. Olaolu Ayoola, has designed a flying car.

The 22-year old, who just completed his one year mandatory service with the National Youth Service Corps, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the car, which was a prototype of the real one, could fly up to 500 metres into the sky.

According to him, the beauty of this design is that the same engine that powers the car as a road-going vehicle also powers it in the air as aircraft, saying that it is a combination of a car and a helicopter.

The LAUTECH product, who said he started experimenting with the designing of various devices since his primary school days, said he could build real flying cars if given the necessary support.

A drone designed by Ayoola had caught the attention of the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, and other dignitaries at the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2014 Batch ‘C’ of corps members in Ede in 2014.

The LAUTECH product said although the drone and the flying car were similar, his latest design was different.

He was optimistic that he would get the needed support from the government and individuals to make the flying machines better.

He said, “The flying car has the combined advantages of a car and aircraft. It will be far cheaper than any aircraft, with ease of maintenance. It requires less technical know-how to operate and it will be more mobile than aircraft.

“It can take off vertically and land vertically. It does not require any airport or runway to take off or to land. It can be used as a private vehicle.”

While on the road, Ayoola explained that the flying car would function like other cars but assume the status of aircraft when in the air.

Apart from being cheaper, flying cars are also easier to operate and maintain than aeroplanes and helicopters.

Ayoola said, “Flying cars are emergency vehicles. They can assist in decongesting road traffic. More lives can be saved in emergency situations. They can be used as ambulances because they can easily fly over traffic to accident scenes and convey victims to hospitals, without getting stuck in gridlocks.

“Natural disasters, especially floods, can be effectively monitored and controlled using flying cars. When such events occur, towns and villages where they happen become inaccessible by road but flying cars can access such difficult areas for rescue operations and bring relief materials to victims.

“Flying cars will be greatly useful to the military. The flying car can ferry troops close to the battle ground and over it. It can be used to conduct aerial surveillance and reconnaissance.”

The Vice Chancellor of LAUTECH, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, while speaking in an interview with our correspondent, said the university would do everything to assist Ayoola to bring his dream to reality.

He said Ayoola had registered for a masters’ degree programme and had been assigned a supervisor to guide and give him necessary advice.