Dubai Tests A Self-Driving Hover-Taxi, Aims To Launch It In July

First Posted: Feb 14, 2017 03:20 AM EST

Dubai aims to introduce an aerial vehicle by July and it aims for a self-driving transportation by 2030. It tested a Chinese prototype of a self-driving hover-taxi also referred to as EHang 184, according to transport authority.

#Luxury Ehang 184 AAV Will Turn You Into An Actual Drone Pilot https://t.co/HNuvlHzyAc pic.twitter.com/rlJP07ucCW

— Luxury Life (@LuuxuryLiifee) January 28, 2017

Mattar al-Tayer, the transport authority head, said that the autonomous aerial vehicle exhibited at the World Government Summit is not just a model. He further said that they have already experimented with the vehicle in a flight in the Dubai sky.

The EHang 184 Is A Human-Sized Drone Taking Off At CES https://t.co/VrmlRD1OvM pic.twitter.com/5KvIEnFriF — Curatigo (@curatigo) January 27, 2017

Phys.org reports that the vehicle known as EHang 184 was made by Chinese drone manufacturer EHang. It could be recharged in two hours and could make trips of up to 30 minutes. It could travel on a programmed course at 100 kilometers an hour (60 mph) at a height of 300 meters (1,000 feet). It is empowered by eight propellers.

So, how does it work? The passenger will just select a destination for the autonomous taxi to take off. It would then take him to his destination and land in the selected location that is monitored by a ground control center.

Mr. Tayer said that they are making every effort to start the operation of the autonomous aerial vehicle in July 2017. This is to help reduce the traffic congestion.

EHang 184 is also an eco-friendly low autonomous aerial vehicle. It is designed to be 100 percent green technology and is powered by electricity. If, in case, one set of the power system is not operating normally, the vehicle could still operate a normal flight plan and guarantee the safety of the passenger.

The vehicle also flies in an inverted U shape. Its take-off and landing points are landing targets pre-set with EHang logo. Meanwhile, the landing camera will position the landing sites automatically and precisely.