Chinese company Beijing Yi-Hang Creation Science & Technology Co Ltd has a strong footprint in the drone industry. However, there has not been much news about its Ehang 216 pilotless taxi project since a press release in 2017. That was until Ehang Company (Chinese acronym) showcased a prototype at the Generali Arena football stadium on April 5, 2019. For once, the FK Austrian Wien football team had to take a backseat in their home stands.
More about the Ehang Company # 216 Pilotless Drone
The two-seater Model 216 has 16 propellers. These have successfully carried it on over 1,000 manned flights with a maximum flying range of 5.5 miles. Other models are doing sterling service in aerial cinematography, photography, and survey missions.
Although the Ehang Company could not fly outside the Generali Arena for legal reasons, it did perform well. Moreover, Commercial Drone Professional reports it made “vertical moves of up to 30 feet” and “several hops.” That said, we not quite ready to volunteer for a flight. However, France 24 reports “thousands of pre-orders” and Austrian aeronautics company FACC poised to start mass production in 2020.
Watch Events Unfold at Generali Arena
Could This Be the Start of What We Have Been Waiting For?
Ehang Company already has a number of successful drone projects in its pocket. That’s because its quadcopter Ghost performs aerial missions under smartphone control. However, it does not appear to have made much progress with its Ehang Hexacopter with 22 pound payload.
The Chinese company’s Ehang 184 has however had more success having made 40 trips carrying passengers. Tests using dummies included ‘violent ones’ according to Wikipedia. These were ‘in storm-force winds, in low visibility, at night and 1,000 feet above the ground.
Ehang’s first immediate aim is transporting passengers in electric taxis at low altitude over distances of up to 22 miles. An application for the city hopper is currently pending with the Austrian aviation authority.
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Preview Image: Ehang 216 Pilotless Taxi at Generali Arena
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/WG7MDXI2kpM
