VIDEO: 'Flying car' makes successful unmanned flight

The Cormorant Unmanned Air Vehicle takes to the skies over Israel on Nov. 3, 2016. (Urban Aeronautics)

HOUSTON – It’s not quite ready to usher the world into the era of "The Jetsons," but a video making the rounds this week has a lot of people excited.

Urban Aeronautics posted a video on YouTube in November showing its flying vehicle, once dubbed “Air Mule,” making a successful unmanned flight.

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The autopilot of the Cormorant, as the vehicle is now known, relies on inertial and ground reference, which is necessary for a flying vehicle to navigate uneven terrain and obstructed airspace, according to the Israel-based company.

"This flight paves the way forward for the immediate evolution of Comorant from prototype to near-term production and ultimately commercialization of this groundbreaking technology," said company founder Rafi Yoeli.

The vehicle uses numerous sensors, lasers, radar and cameras to control the flight. It will include obstacle avoidance sensors in the future.

The company said upcoming flights will test efforts to improve smoothness through flight modes, speed and maneuverability.