We are one step closer to traveling by drone. Chinese drone maker Ehang Corp has successfully tested its one person Ehang 184 flying taxi for 1000 test flights with passengers.
It is very simple to take a ride in this giant autonomous drone. You just have to enter desired location into smartphone app and the drone does the rest of the work.
Ehang had promised its dream of personal robotic transportation at CES in Las Vegas in 2016. Now it seems it has fulfilled its promise by releasing video footages of Ehang 184 test flights even in different weather conditions.
This drone weighs 440 pounds, 4.9 feet tall and can lift a load of 220 pounds. Its maximum flying altitude is over 11,000 feet. Its cruising speed is 62mph, max flight time is 23 minutes, having all electric motors and charge time is 25 minutes. It is designed for short to medium distances.
Ehang 184 can fully charge in 4 hours. It will communicate via 4G wireless network and its control room will be on the ground. It is called “184” because it has 1 passenger, 8 propellers and 4 arms. It is the safest, smartest and ecofriendly and low altitude autonomous vehicle.
There are reports that Ehang is working with authorities in Dubai to start self flying taxi service this summer
With the help of electrical powered propellers, Ehang 184 could prove a handy way to beat the traffic to airports in busy places like Las Vegas, New York and Shanghai. There are two drawbacks. One problem; it is made only for one passenger. Another problem; it can carry people for 23 minutes only.
There are no doubt, flaws and challenges which the company is not showing at the moment. The journey of Ehang184 is paved with obstacles, but the company will keep making persistent endeavor to successfully achieve design KPI of prototype during test flight. This is a real, tangible machine that does what it promised.
The main question is whether we are ready for it? What do you think?
References: 1 2