CES 2016: Ehang 184 drone capable of carrying passenger
Chinese manufacturer Ehang has developed a drone capable of carrying a single passenger — and they want to fly it here.
Fancy a ride in your personal drone? China manufacturer Ehang is offering you just that with this 200kg drone that’s capable of carrying a single passenger.
In an interview with The Australian, Ehang co-founder and chief operating officer George Yan said Australia was definitely among the countries where the company will seek the approval of authorities for the drone to fly legally.
Looking like a cross between a tiny helicopter and an ultralight aircraft, the drone is modelled on the current consumer drones blitzing the technology market. It uses a Microsoft Surface tablet as the console; Mr Yan said it was for entertainment purposes, offering music and video as you fly your way across the terrain.
The drone was on display for the first time today at the CES technology trade show in Las Vegas.
Mr Yan said the model was not a prototype; he said it flies and according to Ehang, it is the same drone shown in video released by the company, although seeing would be believing in this instance. Ehang says it cannot show the drone in flight at CES.
Mr Yan said half the weight of the drone was battery; it was capable of flying up to 23 minutes at a height of 500 metres on a single charge of its lithium batteries, he said. Two thirds of the net weight was battery.
Mr Yan said each of the arms of the drone was powered by two motors, so that if one motor failed, the other was capable of maintaining the drone in flight.
Unlike a conventional aircraft, the operator inside the drone remains a passenger; the Ehang 184 is preprogrammed to fly to a specific destination before they hop in.
That however creates some issues.
First, the drone’s flight-path would by necessity be limited to flat terrain where no evasive flying of hills or other objects would be needed.
Secondly, if there were sudden wind gusts, a flock of birds, or, in the extreme instance, another aircraft in its path, could the passenger take over the Ehang 184?
Mr Yan said they could take over, but it would only be to land the drone.
Ehang is hoping to get its passenger drone in market in 2017 and estimates the cost to be $US200,000 to $US300,000 per unit.
“We are working with regulators in different countries to ensure we can abide by local laws,” he said.
The company also showed off version 2.0 of its GhostDrone.
Chris Griffith travelled to CES Las Vegas courtesy of Sony and Acer
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