Ehang Inc., a drone maker based in Guangzhou, China, recently unveiled the first drone capable of carrying a passenger.
The demonstraters unveiled the Ehang 184 at the recent CES 2016 convention in Las Vegas. The electric drone that can be described as a small helicopter with doubled propellers that spins parallel to the ground like other drones.
The drone can be charged fully in just two hours and is capable of carrying a load of up to 220 pounds and can fly for 23 minutes at sea level. It is designed to fly up to 1,650 feet off the ground with a top speed of 63 mph and a maximum altitude of 11,500.
The drone, however, can only fit one person and maybe a small backpack due to the weight limitation. It is equipped with air conditioning and lights. It can also be easily parked in a normal car parking spot when the propellers are folded.
It's easy to control, as well. The drone responds to two commands to fly - "take off" and "land". All controlled on a Microsoft tablet. However, in the event of a mechanical problem and the user is unable to control the device, the company is planning to house a remote control center as a back up that would take over the drone and ensure it safely brings its passenger back to the ground.
The company stresses that this "quad-copter" is safer than regular helicopters.
Thousands of people have registered as drone owners and the US Federal authorities are already laying restrictions and policies against the use of this technology. Which ultimately means that a drone with a one-man passenger can face most likely ten times or more critical examination. The legal platforms associated with this device can be complicated. Something the company acknowledges.
This is something the world has never seen before. A statement expressed by Shang Hsiao, the co-founder and CFO of Ehang Inc.
Possible retail price for the device can reach $300,000.
