15 January 2016
Flying without a licence may become a reality if drones like the Ehang 184, launched at January’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), have their way. The Ehang 184 is officially termed a ‘personal Autonomous Aerial Vehicle’ – in other words, an unmanned, self-guided aircraft for carrying one person.
All the passenger does is enter the destination via a smartphone app. The 184’s automated navigation and 24/7, real-time flight command centre, take over. The possibilities are immense, from taxi services to shipping, medical care and retail, said Ehang.
“It’s been a lifetime goal of mine to make flight faster, easier and more convenient than ever,” said Huazhi Hu, boss of the Chinese company.
“The 184 provides a viable solution to the many challenges the transportation industry faces in a safe and energy efficient way. Automated flight eliminates the most dangerous part – human error.”
The 184 – named for ‘one’ passenger, ‘eight’ propellers, and ‘four’ arms – is the latest from drone maker Ehang. The company claims a fail-safe system ensures that if any components malfunction or if there’s damage in-flight such as a bird strike, the aircraft will immediately begin taking the necessary precautions to ensure safety. In an emergency, passengers can halt the flight and simply hover with just one click.
Other features include vertical takeoff and landing, electric power with four motors, payload of 100kg, endurance of 23 minutes, cruise speed 100km/h, gull-wing doors, tablet console and 4G wi-fi. Oh, and the Ehang 184 won ‘Best Offbeat Product’ at CES2016!
