EHang 184 passenger drone makes first public flight in China
An unmanned passenger-carrying EHang 184 drone could be used for tourism, emergency services and commuting. Photo: Getty
The world’s first passenger drone has made its maiden public flight in China, taking off from Guangzhou City.
With the newly developed EHang 184, all passengers need to do is to get into the small cabin and fasten their seat belts and the automated flight system then takes over.
“None of the traditional flying vehicles can achieve the goal of fully autonomous flying, so they are still far away from common people,” EHang chief executive officer Hu Huazhi said.
“But our successful flight today means the scenes that we used to only see in sci-fi movies are now very close to common people.”
The electrically powered EHang 184 can carry a single passenger weighing up to 100 kilograms for a 23-minute flight at sea level at a speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
The company said the drone has been tested more than 1000 times and is designed to withstand moderate gales with winds of up to 50 kilometres per hour.
The drones will reportedly cost between $US200,000 ($253,000) and $300,000 ($380,000).
Last year the city of Dubai announced a plan to co-operate with EHang to develop self-flying taxis taking people across the city.
The company is eyeing a broader market.
“[The drone can] help people to avoid the traffic on the ground, but also in other applications, we can always think about emergency rescue, or we can transport patients to the hospital, or we can do tourism, you know, fly from one island to the other,” EHang co-founder Derrick Xiong said.
EHang said the final commercial product will fly into the market possibly within the year.
-ABC
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