Chinese Company Showcases First Passenger Drone At CES
Among the drones competing for attention in Las Vegas at CES is the Ehang 184, the world's first passenger drone equipped with sensors and computers in order to navigate and fly autonomously. Developed by Chinese UAV company Ehang, the drone does not require any pilot on-borad. The only user interface in the drone is a tablet which gives the passenger the options to take off and land as well as adjust the air-conditioning.
Currently the drone can carry one passenger to a height of 11,500 feet (3505 meters).
Its cruising speed, is going to be 63 miles per hour (101km) and the cruising time will be 23 minutes.
The drone uses a multi-rotor system with 8 propellors. But in the event of an emergency, Ehang plans on monitoring all flights with a remote control center that is capable of intervening if the need arises.
Assuming clearance by the multiple regulatory agencies to actually sell the drone, owning one would cost you somewhere between $200,000 to $300,000 (!).