During CES 2016, the organizers specially planned a special area to showcase various drones and aerial photography products. Ehang from Guangzhou, China, made a big display of its Ehang 184, a low-altitude autonomous aircraft that is all-electric and can carry people. It will mainly be used for surveys in harsh environments or disaster relief where manpower is needed.
According to Ehang, this product has been assisted in its production by Guangdong government agencies. It can mainly carry items weighing up to 100 kilograms (including one passenger). The control method is to directly specify the destination via mobile phone. The operating interface in the cabin can basically only control takeoff and landing, and hovering and stopping. It also provides air conditioning, 4G network and two-color reading lights. The overall space is only suitable for one person (who cannot be too fat).
Because the safety of passengers is a concern, Ehang has invested considerable effort in the design and development of this product. For example, all key systems are inspected before and after takeoff. If any problems are found, the aircraft will perform a self-inspection to determine whether to continue the flight or make an emergency landing at a nearby location.
As for actual performance, the Ehang 184 can maintain approximately 23 minutes of continuous flight time on a full charge, with an average flight speed of approximately 100 kilometers per hour. Although it cannot currently maintain a very long flight time, Ehang stated that it will continue to improve this and even ensure the safety of passengers. In the future, it will continue to expand this drone command station to ensure relevant technical support for the Ehang 184.
Currently, Ehang plans to launch this first passenger-carrying drone within this year and enter the commercial market. The suggested retail price is expected to be between US$20 and US$30.
