Chinese drone maker Ehang took things to a completely new level this year, in an effort to stand out from the crowd at CES 2016. The designers from this company have unveiled an impressive autonomous drone at the renowned technology event, designed to carry a single passenger, for short to medium distances.
The world’s first human-carrying drone has been named Ehang 184 and luckily for us, no pilot’s license will be required to fly it, as the 12-inch touchscreen display simplifies destination selection with an automated flight system.
The autonomous drone manages tasks such as air traffic communication, obstacle avoidance, and navigation, all by its own, while the on-board computer will consistently select the quickest and safest path towards your destination, at least in theory.
According to Ehang, even if one propeller malfunctions, the ‘184’ will still land safely. The fail safe system will overview any components that malfunction or disconnect and land the drone immediately.
The prototype model revealed at CES 2016 shows off a carbon fiber epoxy composite body alongside an aluminum alloy frame, with four arms and eight electric propellers.
142 hp of effective lifting power and a 14.4 kWh battery make sure the ‘184’ will remain airborne for up to 23 minutes, reaching a maximum speed of 100 km/h and a top altitude of 3,499 meters. The question is: will you feel safe aboard? We’d love to try it out!
