Jump to content
Forums Gone... but not forgotten!
Pontiac of the Month

JayByrd's 1986 Grand Prix

2024 December
of the Month

  • Rev up your passion for Pontiacs and join our vibrant community of enthusiasts!

    Whether you're a die-hard fan of classic muscle cars or you've got a soft spot for sleek modern models, you've found your home here at Forever Pontiac. Our community is dedicated to celebrating everything Pontiac, from the iconic GTO to the legendary Firebird and everything in between.

    Unlock access to expert advice, stunning photo galleries, engaging discussions, exclusive events, and more!

    Start your Pontiac journey with us today!

    Sign up now! 🏁

Car and Driver: Stop Everything: The Single-Passenger, Car-Sized Autonomous Drone of the Future Is Here


Recommended Posts

Posted

EHang184

-

Landing right in the middle of the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show was this Jetsons-like flying pod from Chinese company EHang. The battery-powered, eight-rotor contraption resembles those buzzy, annoying drones your neighbors kids keep flying into your yard, only it’s large enough to carry an entire human being. Oh, and it’s autonomous—making it sort of like an Amazon drone delivery vehicle for people.
-

-

EHang 184 in flight

-

The EHang 184, as it’s known, apparently has undergone real-life testing already. Take your pick for what the “184” in its name means; our bets are on the number of design iterations EHang has tried, or that perhaps 184 Chinese test pilots have laid down their lives in the eight-rotor device’s development. According to EHang, the 184 is the “safest, Eco-est and Smartest low altitude autonomous aerial vehicle, aiming on providing Medium-Short Distance communication and transportation solution.”

-

The vehicle measures 152.2 inches long (including the rotors), which is a few inches stubbier than a Honda Fit, but its width is even greater at 153.5 inches. From skid to rooftop, it stands 57 inches tall. When parked, the EHang’s rotor arms can fold up to reduce its footprint. Built mostly of carbon fiber and aluminum, the vehicle weighs 441 pounds empty. The eight motors combine for a total output of about 140 horsepower, and takeoff is achieved vertically; when cruising altitude is reached (the operating ceiling is 1640 feet), the 184 hums along at 62 mph before landing vertically at its destination. That destination had better be nearby, however, as the ‘copter can only hover for 23 minutes before requiring two to four hours of recharging.

-

EHang 184 computer

-

There’s seating only for one, and the rider faces a 12-inch tablet computer that displays pertinent journey information such as speed, altitude, and navigation mapping. So how will this autonomous flight thing work? EHang’s website claims that the 184 “is always connected online with the low-altitude command center,” meaning that while the vehicle will fly itself, it has a backup redundancy somewhere back on earth. Described as something of a low-altitude air-traffic control, each of these centers—EHang says it will build many—will handle the pods’ routing, and perhaps even remotely initiate emergency maneuvers. After all, there appear to be no backup controls inside the 184 in case something goes wrong.

-

Worried about safety? Let EHang put your mind at ease: “During extreme weather condition, the command center will prohibit the AAV from take-off.” What if an issue crops up mid-flight? “Whenever there is an emergency, [the] passenger can instruct the system to land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.” Likewise, if one of the eight rotors craps out mid-air, or “if any components malfunction or disconnect,” EHang says the aircraft will “immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.” It isn’t specified whether EHang considers a crash the same thing as a landing—hey, nowhere in the company’s press materials do they promise the landing will be smooth.

-
--
-

One limitation is that the copter can only carry 220 pounds worth of payload, a single passenger and their luggage (and that luggage can’t be much bigger than a briefcase). That specification pretty much rules out the EHang’s future in the U.S.; it appears that our Big Gulp–sized population will still have to drive to McDonald’s. Perhaps that’s for the best.
-2016 Consumer Electronics Show

-WWJ81F-8Hqk

Read Full Article

Tired of these Ads? Register Today!

Posted

that looks pretty cool.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Tired of these Ads? Purchase Enhanced Membership today to remove them!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.