And you thought the drone you got for Christmas was cool... Check this out! A Chinese developer took the drone concept to a whole new level by creating the “first-ever autonomous aerial vehicle.” It's called the EHang 184, and it is a drone that you can ride in!
According to the press information that was revealed during their CES 2016 reveal, the EHang 184 has some impressive development creativity built-in. Not only does the "device" have some very impressive included safety features, it can also be controlled by a smartphone app. Specifically, the developer shared that you can use the app to simply set the destination (or destinations) for your trip, and the EHang 184 will fly you there automatically.
The safety measures themselves include multiple redundant systems, and also have a series of sensors throughout the drone which monitor it constantly. The EHang 184 will even automatically attempt to land if it detects any damage, and will allow the user to manually take over to hover in case specific instances of danger are detected ahead. Additionally, the app itself is also digitally encrypted to prevent external attacks.
Here are a few more features/specs for the EHang 184:
- All-electric single-seat - takes off and lands vertically (like a helicopter)
- 1.5m tall and weighs 200kg by itself - with a maximum payload capacity of 100kg m
- Autonomy of around 23 minutes
- Average cruising speed of 100km/h
- Powered by eight motors that have a maximum output of 106W
- An included tablet lets the passenger control the ride
- Includes AC and 4G Wi-Fi Internet
Be sure to check out the full press release and video (below) for further details! What an amazing time to be alive!
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