SAN FRANCISCO – A Chinese startup called Ehang is using the same technology that Amazon proposes to deliver packages to deliver passengers more than 20 miles – and the machine pilots itself.
The EHang 184 AAV is a one-person pod lifted by eight rotors mounted in pairs on four folding arms — thus the number 184. Announced Wednesday at the CES tech show in Las Vegas, the battery-powered aircraft is designed to carry a passenger for 23 minutes at about 60 miles per hour.
For decades, people have dreamed of soaring over traffic jams with jetpacks, flying cars and other personal aircraft. Some of designs are more traditional, like the two-person Icon A5 that lands on water or dry ground, and some are more futuristic, like the Terrafugia Transition, meant for both roadways and airways. Regardless, making that personal aviation dream a reality means working through difficulties intertwining cost, safety, engineering and regulations.
“The 184 provides a viable solution to the many challenges the transportation industry faces in a safe and energy efficient way,” said EHang Chief Executive Huazhi Hu in a statement. Though it’s initially aimed at commuters and adventuresome people, “EHang will make a global impact across dozens of industries beyond personal travel,” he said.
Before that can happen, EHang’s whirlybird ambitions will have to reckon with sharp regulatory constraints.
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This column was written by Stephen Shankland of CNET.Com
