You may be able to fly yourself somewhere soon. At the Consumer Electronics Show, Chinese drone manufacturer Ehang claimed to have built an electric single passenger helicopter that is self-piloting.
Allegedly, a person would be able to travel 10 miles in it. It is supposedly capable of lifting off, flying, detecting obstacles, and landing safely, all on its own. It’s not a legal vehicle by any means, nor will it likely be in the near future, but the development of a helicopter like this shows huge strides being made in sustainable transportation.
The catch, unfortunately, is that no one has seen a person ride in it.
The Ehang 184, the electric single passenger helicopter in question, is claimed to be the world’s first to be able to operate autonomously. The quadcopter is like an oversized drone, with passenger space for one only. Said passenger would enter their destination and let the machine do the rest of the work. Should a problem arise, the passenger can take the controls and pilot it himself.
No prototype was shown during the announcement, only a video and some images. The presentation was met with much skepticism, as attendees noticed the video did not show the machine in flight with a passenger inside. The photos were also either renders or lacked context.
Despite this, the Ehang team believe that the quadcopter presented has the potential to revolutionize personal travel. The CEO of Ehang, Huazhi Hu, said, “It’s been a lifetime goal of mine to make flight faster, easier, and more convenient than ever. The 184 provides a viable solution to the many challenges the transportation industry faces in a safe and energy-efficient way.”
Though it remains to be seen if this is a legitimate electric single passenger helicopter or just a publicity stunt, it will be interesting to see how the product evolves in the future, if at all.
