Taking off from Guangzhou City, the world’s first passenger drone completed its first public flight in China this month after being tested over 1,000 times. The EHang 184 drone was created by the EHang company, which specializes in the technology and servicing of intelligent aerial vehicles.
The newly developed EHang 184 is an impressive drone that captures the future of technology and autonomous aerial vehicles. The electrically powered drone was on display at the World Internet Conference in China last year, where it showcased the safety, intelligence, and eco-friendliness of the vehicle.
The EHang 184 can carry a single passenger, weighing up to 220 pounds, for a 23-minute flight at a low altitude. It can reach speeds of up to 62 miles per hour, an impressive feat for its size. When passengers climb into the small cabin and fasten their seat belt, an automated flight system then takes over to power the vehicle. It is designed to tolerate moderate wind gusts of up to 31 miles per hour.
The EHang company produces several other drone types, including ones that can be controlled by your phone. As the company expands to produce drones of all types, they continue to eye a broader market where intelligent aerial vehicles can not only help people avoid ground traffic, but also for tourism, emergency rescue, and more.
Dubai announced last year that they would work with EHang to create “self-flying taxis” that would service people by taking them across the city to their next destination. This is what the future of drones is looking like for our world.
“I see autonomous drones being the way of the future; especially for short-hops between cities such as Boston and New York. On – demand aviation has the potential to radically improve urban mobility, giving people back time lost in their daily commutes. Just as skyscrapers allowed cities to use limited land more efficiently, urban air transportation will use three-dimensional airspace to alleviate transportation congestion on the ground. A network of small, electric aircraft that take off and land vertically (called VTOL aircraft for Vertical Take – off and Landing, and pronounced vee – tol), will enable rapid, reliable transportation between suburbs and cities and, ultimately, within cities.” – Joshua Hebert, Magellan Jets CEO
EHang said the final commercial product of the EHang 184 drone will hopefully be on the market within the year. It will cost anywhere between $200,000 and $300,000.
