There has been a lot of buzz since the introduction of drones in various industries with different types of them being invented. The Ehang 184 is a new and different kind of drone compared to other types because it is the only drone that is designed to carry one person from one place to another. All you need to do is get in, power it up, on the 12-inch touchscreen tablet display, select your destination then press the take-off button. The automated flight systems in the drone will then take over and manage communication with air traffic control and avoid other obstacles on the way. It will always choose the quickest safe route from your present location to your destination and in case it malfunctions then the fail systems will take over. You can also decide to hover in one place.
The drone is designed by Huazhi Hu, who is the CEO of Ehang with the aim that people need a short to medium distance personal air transport that didn’t require one to have a pilot’s license and also not dangerous under low altitude. 184 just stand for one passenger, eight propellers, and four arms.
Ehang 184 AAV (Autonomous Aerial Vehicle) has the following features:
- It has a carbon fiber and epoxy fused body with an aerial aluminum alloy frame.
- It has eight propellers which are divided into two and are located on the top and bottom of each of the four arms. Eight motors with 142hp/106kW power the arms and the arms can fold up when the drone is packed hence occupy less space.
- The drone weighs 200kgs (440lb), a maximum speed of 62mph (100km/h),can reach an altitude of 11480 ft and can carry up to 120kg (264lb).
- The battery is 14.4kWh and it charges for 4 hours in trickle mode, but for 2 hours in fast mode and it can be used for approximately 23 minutes while airborne.
- It as a trunk that is used to store your 16-inch backpack luggage, air condition, its connected to 4G internet, has full exterior and interior lighting and gull-wing doors.
The 184 AAV is a new type of technology, so its’ still trying to catch up with the FAA rules and regulation and also how to deal with legal issues. It is already functional, but it shall be available for commercial purposes later in the year. It shall be sold between USD $200,000 and $300,000.
It flies in an inverted U shape, and the takeoff and landing points are targets pre-set with Ehang logo positioned by the landing camera accurately and automatically.
Ehang 184 will provide a secure, faster and more convenient way in the transportation industry hence making a global impact.
