Ehang184: Watch this to find out what it's like to actually fly in a drone
The world's first Autonomous Aerial Vehicle, a drone that can fly people, was unveiled at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas.
A drone is defined as "an unmanned aircraft or ship guided by remote control or onboard computers". It might be time to change the definition.
Specifically, that bit about it being unmanned.
Ehang, a company based in Guangzhou, China, has unveiled the world's first commercially available passenger drone. It's called Ehang184 – named so for one passenger, eight propellers, and four arms.
While pilotless planes have been developed and tested before, Ehang claims its vehicle is the world's first commercially available self-flying aircraft.
As the video shows, it looks like a larger version of a quadcopter drone, with a small cockpit in the middle capable of carrying a single passenger and a small bag. The company claims that it can carry 100 kg at a time and fly for 23 minutes after two hours of charging.
But is this enough to attract passengers, who will neither have control over the vehicle, nor a pilot to rely on? Passengers are supposed to choose their destination and route on a tablet and then sit back and enjoy the ride – a feature that ensures passengers won't need a pilot's licence. The aircraft can reportedly take off autonomously, fly a set route, sense obstacles, and land.
The video describes the company's determination to make "an absolutely safe aerial vehicle." It has an independently developed fail-safe system to ensure that safety measures kick in as soon as a component malfunctions, or if there’s in-flight damage. the aircraft will immediately begin taking the necessary precautions to ensure safety.
It's designed to fly fairly low, at altitudes of between 300 and 500 metres, but its creators claim it can reach a height of 3,500 metre and can reach a top speed of 100km per hour.
The company's press release quotes CEO Huazhi Hu: "It’s been a lifetime goal of mine to make flight faster, easier, and more convenient than ever. The 184 provides a viable solution to the many challenges the transportation industry faces in a safe and energy-efficient way... I truly believe that Ehang will make a global impact across dozens of industries beyond personal travel. The 184 is evocative of a future we’ve always dreamed of and is primed to alter the very fundamentals of the way we get around."