A Chinese company claimed a world first on Wednesday by unveiling a drone capable of carrying a human passenger.
Guangzhou-based Ehang Inc pulled the cloth off the Ehang 184 at the Las Vegas convention center during the CES gadget show.
In a company video showing the 184 flying, it looks like a small helicopter but with four propellers spinning parallel to the ground in a similar configuration to other drones.
The electric-powered drone can be fully charged in two hours, carry up to 100kg (220lb) and fly for 23 minutes at sea level, according to Ehang. The cabin fits one person and a small backpack and is fitted with air conditioning and a reading light. It is designed to fit, with propellers folded, in a single parking spot.
After setting a flight plan, passengers needed only to give two commands – “take off” and “land” – done with a single click on a tablet, the company said.
The drone is designed to fly 300 metres to 500 metres (1,000 to 1,650 feet) off the ground with a maximum altitude of 3.5km (11,500 feet) and top speed of 63 mph (100km/h).
US authorities are starting to lay out guidelines for drone use, and a human-passenger drone seems certain to face strict scrutiny.
Passenger Drones are now powerful enough to carry a person. Here's my list of top 5 drones that can carry a person (in no particular order) which are interesting, risky or just simply entertaining. We might one day see human carrying drones in the consumer market.
Guangzhou-based Ehang Inc pulled the cloth off the Ehang 184 at the Las Vegas convention center during the CES gadget show.
In a company video showing the 184 flying, it looks like a small helicopter but with four propellers spinning parallel to the ground in a similar configuration to other drones.
The electric-powered drone can be fully charged in two hours, carry up to 100kg (220lb) and fly for 23 minutes at sea level, according to Ehang. The cabin fits one person and a small backpack and is fitted with air conditioning and a reading light. It is designed to fit, with propellers folded, in a single parking spot.
After setting a flight plan, passengers needed only to give two commands – “take off” and “land” – done with a single click on a tablet, the company said.
The drone is designed to fly 300 metres to 500 metres (1,000 to 1,650 feet) off the ground with a maximum altitude of 3.5km (11,500 feet) and top speed of 63 mph (100km/h).
US authorities are starting to lay out guidelines for drone use, and a human-passenger drone seems certain to face strict scrutiny.
Passenger Drones are now powerful enough to carry a person. Here's my list of top 5 drones that can carry a person (in no particular order) which are interesting, risky or just simply entertaining. We might one day see human carrying drones in the consumer market.
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