The EHang 184 MEGADRONE is a Smart Air Taxi

By: | January 25th, 2016

EHang, a Chinese drone manufacturer, has taken drone technology to the next level with its megadrone that is big enough to fit a passenger.

The megadrone was recently unveiled at International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The passenger does not need any certification or training to fly.

Called EHang 184, this megadrone is the world’s first ‘Autonomous Aerial Vehicle’ that can carry a passenger of up to 130 kg to his or her destination. All the passenger has to do is punch in the destination into a smartphone app.

Powered by a battery, this drone has four arms with eight propellers which can be folded for storage or transportation. The battery is capable of covering a 23-minute flight at 60 mph on a charge of two to four hours.

The megadrone has a fail-safe system that guarantees passenger safety.

Megadrone uses multiple independent flight control systems and sensors to navigate and pilot passengers to their destination. In the event of an emergency, a pilot from the command center takes over.

Megadrone will be made available in China soon. The company also plans to launch the megadrone in the U.S. The FAA has not yet approved the drone for human use in the US, but EHang hopes to get the necessary certifications soon.

The EHang megadrone is estimated to cost around $200,000 to $300,000.

Watch the megadrone’s CES launch video below:

Nidhi Goyal

Nidhi is a gold medalist Post Graduate in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.

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