IRIA News

Groundbreaking Vehicle marks a new chapter in Transportation

Chinese company Ehang wants to disrupt the idea of delivery drones to the next level by introducing Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV)184 which could be the world’s first autonomous human transportation drone.

The company unveiled the world’s first commercially available passenger drone at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The Ehang 184, created by Guangzhou-based company Ehang, essentially looks like a larger version of a quadcopter drone – except with a small cockpit in the middle capable of carrying a single passenger.

The all-electric drone has four arms, eight propellers, eight motors and two sets of sensors — as well as a redundancy to ensure safety in bad weather (or perhaps in case one set of sensors fails).

Its website says that although the device is thunderstorm-proof, the command center will prohibit the vehicle from takeoff during extreme weather conditions. The way it works, according to EHang, is that the passenger punches their destination into a mobile app. Then, they have only two possible commands: “take off” and “land.”

EHang claims the 184 AAV, which is expected to be available in 2016 at a cost of between $200,000 and $300,000, has full redundancy, meaning that if one set of its multiple power systems is behaving badly, another kicks in, “ensuring the safety of both the passenger and the vehicle.” It is also said to have a built-in fail-safe system that immediately lands the drone if components malfunction or disconnect.

Chinese company unveils world’s first passenger drone, the Ehang 184

Ehang says the 184, which is all electric, can carry a single passenger up to 10 miles or roughly 23 minutes of flight. The person in the cockpit doesn’t do any piloting, they just input their destination and enjoy the ride. The aircraft claims to be able to autonomously take off, fly a route, sense obstacles, and land. And if anything goes wrong, a human pilot is supposed to step in and take over the controls from a remote command station.

“It’s been a lifetime goal of mine to make flight faster, easier, and more convenient than ever. The 184 provides a viable solution to the many challenges the transportation industry faces in a safe and energy-efficient way,” said Ehang CEO Huazhi Hu. “I truly believe that Ehang will make a global impact across dozens of industries beyond personal travel. The 184 is evocative of a future we’ve always dreamed of and is primed to alter the very fundamentals of the way we get around.”

Until now, EHang has never made anything even remotely like the 184 AAV, unless you consider its small consumer Ghostdrone line—which cost between $600 and $800—to be similar to what’s basically a one-person autonomous aircraft.

Though the company is showing off the 184 AAV at CES in Las Vegas this week, it’s not actually demonstrating the vehicle’s capabilities because FAA rules prohibit flying the 184 in Las Vegas. EHang co-founder Derrick Xiong said the company is planning a media tour soon after CES in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and New Zealand, where it will show the 184 in action.

In the meantime, the company has met with government officials in New Zealand, in Los Angeles, California and China. New Zealand is interested in experimental tests, Hsiao said, and the Chinese government supports it but needs to undergo the application process.

So far, the company has successfully completed more than 100 flights with an actual live person on board.

EHang 184 – the drone is controlled through a simple tablet-based app

Drone Specs and Passenger Experience

• Standing 1.5 meters tall and weighing 200 kilograms (440 pounds), the EHang 184 AAV has a load capacity of 100 kilograms (220 pounds), with the maximum output of 106W powered by eight motors. It’s designed to have the capability to carry a single passenger for 23 minutes’ duration flight at sea level at average cruising speed of 100 km/h.
• The EHang 184 AAV body consists of a cabin for single passenger with a gull-wing door, a trunk and the power system composed of four arms and eight propellers on the bottom. The four arms, when folded, allow the AAV to occupy the same size parking space as consumer cars.
• Inside the cabin is placed a single seat, with a design similar to an F1 racing car seat. In front of the seat is a tablet console, through which passengers can easily input commands. Additionally, the cabin’s built-in air conditioner automatically adjusts the in-cabin temperature. Complete with 4G Wi-Fi Internet, EHang 184 provides passengers with comfortable and enjoyable riding experiences.