罗罗公司开发飞行出租车，有望十年内升空

Engine maker Rolls-Royce has designed a propulsion system for a flying taxi which it says could take to the skies as soon as early next decade.

喷气发动机制造商罗尔斯·罗伊斯公司（RR）设计了一套用于飞行出租车的推进系统，希望可以在未来十年内飞上天空。

The British firm said it had drawn up plans for an "electric vertical take-off and landing" (EVTOL) vehicle, which could carry four to five people.

这家英国公司表示已经制订了“电动垂直起降”（EVTOL）车辆的计划，该车辆可以搭载四至五名乘客。

The vehicle could travel at speeds of up to 250 mph (402 km/h) for approximately 500 miles, it said.

该车辆可以以高达250英里/小时（402公里/小时）的速度行驶约500英里。

Rolls joins a variety of other firms in seeking to develop flying vehicles.

这标志着罗罗公司加入了与其他公司的竞争，进入飞行器开发领域。

Speaking ahead of this week’s Farnborough Airshow, Rob Watson, head of the company’s electrical team, said: "We are well placed to play a leading role in the emerging world of personal air mobility and will also look to work in collaboration with a range of partners."

在本周的法恩伯勒航展之前，罗罗公司电气团队负责人罗伯·沃什表示：“我们已准备好在新型空中交通领域发挥主导作用，并且希望与其他厂商合作。”

Flying vehicles have long been the stuff of science fiction, but aviation and technology companies are now working to make them a reality.

飞行器一直是科幻小说中的东西，但航空科技公司正在努力使它们成为现实。

Airbus, US ride-sharing firm Uber and a range of start-ups including one backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, called Kitty Hawk, have all announced projects.

空中客车公司、美国网约车公司优步、谷歌联合创始人拉里·佩奇投资的创业公司基蒂霍克等公司，都参与到了电动飞行出租车的研发和试验当中。

Rolls said the initial concept for EVTOL used gas turbine technology to generate electricity to power six electric propulsors, specially designed to have a low noise profile.

罗罗公司表示，EVTOL的最初概念是使用燃气轮机技术为六个电动推进器发电，这些推进器进行了专门的低噪音设计。

Its wings would be able to rotate 90 degrees, enabling the vehicle to take off or land vertically. It could also use existing heliports and airports.

它的机翼可以旋转90度，车辆能够垂直起降。也可以使用现有的直升坪和机场。

We believe that given the work we are doing today to develop hybrid electric propulsion capabilities, this model could be available by the early to mid 2020s, provided that a viable commercial model for its introduction can be created, the firm said.

“目前我们所做的工作是开发混合动力电动推进系统，预计可以在21世纪20年代中期开始提供样品，前提是能够找到一个可行的商业模式，”该公司说。

The company, which will disclose more details at Farnborough, said it was looking for an airframe maker and a partner to provide aspects of the electrical system.

该公司将在法恩伯勒航展上披露更多细节，并表示目前正在寻找一家机身制造商和一家电气系统合作商，帮助实现项目的商业化。