FLYING TAXI TAKES WING
In a video uploaded by Chinese drone maker Ehang, an autonomous aerial vehicle hovers over Skydive Dubai’s desert camp during a test flight. Dubai aims to make 25 per cent of all journeys in the emirate autonomous by 2030. —
dubai — Dubai has conducted trial runs of a flying taxi in collaboration with Chinese drone maker EHANG at the test site of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA).
In a video uploaded to Youtube by EHANG, an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) can be seen flying in close proximity to the Burj Khalifa, as well as Skydive Dubai’s desert campus. Engineers and technicians can also be seen monitoring flight data, as well as the AAV’s on-board camera and a map showing its flight path.
“Since early 2017, the EHANG184 autonomous aerial vehicle has experimented flight tests in Dubai sky at the test site of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority,” the video’s caption read. “Test flights have been carried out especially at deserts and coastal environments for a number
Test flights have been carried out especially at deserts and coastal environments for a number of adaptive aviation flight test subjects.” EHANG
of adaptive aviation flight test subjects.”
At the World Government Summit in Dubai in February, EHANG and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) had announced a partnership to produce the AAV — known as the EHANG184 — with the aim of helping Dubai build the world’s most intelligent transportation system. In February, the RTA had — accurately as it turns out — announced that it would take flight in Dubai by July.
According to its specifications, the 3.9-metre long, 4.02-metre wide and 1.60-metre tall aircraft weights 360kg with a passenger, and can cruise at an altitude of up to 3,000 metres.
The EHANG184 is designed to operate for up to 30 minutes at a speed of 160km/h, with a standard operating speed of about 100 km/h. According to the company, the AAV also comes equipped with “full redundancy”, meaning that the vehicle can operate a normal flight plan and ensure the safety of passengers in the event that one power system is operating abnormally.
Additionally, the EHANG’s fail safe system allows the aircraft to land at the nearest possible area if any components malfunction or disconnect while in flight. The 184 also comes equipped with a touch-screen monitor in which passengers can track their flight.
In a statement made earlier this year, Mattar Al Tayer, RTA’s Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors, said that the AAV will help Dubai achieve its goals of making 25 per cent of all journeys in Dubai autonomous by 2030.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com