Flying drones have become quite popular nowadays. But the ones we see today are small quad copters that many even see as pests in the sky, invading the privacy of others. But all in all, drones have been out there in the market and are quite in demand primarily as toys. But someday, there will be better ways to use them. Chinese manufacturer Ehang just offered one with its introduction of the Ehang 184, the world’s first passenger carrying drone.
The Ehang 184 was recently introduced at CES 2016 held at Las Vegas. It displayed a large drone capable of carrying a single passenger. It is a lot bigger than your typical drone, since it is capable of carrying a human passenger inside. It can transport one passenger anywhere without a pilot. The prototype is 1.4 meters tall and comes with eight propellers attached to four arms that can be folded when the drone is stored. It comes with a fiber-epoxy composite body for durability and lightness with propeller arms made out of aluminum alloy.
The Ehang 184 is designed to remain aloft for around 23 minutes. It is designed to be an ideal aerial transport for short distances. It is also designed in a way so that when one propeller malfunctions, it can still remain aloft. Passenger get inside the Ehang 184 and just input their destination on the on board tablet display. The Ehang 184 then calculates for the shortest distance and brings the passenger to the destination all by itself.
The Ehang 184 is an interesting take on what a flying drone should become. In this case, its use may even capture the imagination of more and more people. The Ehang 184 is expected to be available sometime in late 2016. It is expected to cost around 140,000 to 200,000 UK pounds, or around $200,000 to $286,000.
Image Source: Ehang
