Uber has just announced plans to build Advance Technologies Center in Paris. This research center will focus on Uber Elevate, the flying taxi program.
Advance Technologies Center will be Uber's first research and development center based outside North America. Uber will budget 20 million euros (USD 23.4 million) over 5 years to develop back-end technologies, such as the AI algorithm and air traffic control system
Uber also announced a partnership with the École Polytechnique, a leading engineering school in France. The partnership will include projects such as modeling machine learning transportation requests and air traffic management simulations.
"With world-class engineers and as leaders in global aviation, France is the perfect place to advance our Uber Elevate program and new tech initiatives We are delighted to partner with the École Polytechnique to shape the future of urban mobility, on the ground and in the air," CEO of Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi
The research center will complement Uber's Advanced Technologies Group located in Pittsburgh, Toronto, and San Francisco. However, the research center focuses only on self-driving car programs. The Paris research center will open in autumn this year. The research will focus on the ability to regulate air space, autonomy, energy storage and charging systems.