Human-carrying drone unveiled at Consumer Electronic Show

[FLPanhandle]

https://richarddawkins.net/2016/01/human-carrying-drone-unveiled-at-ces/



As might be expected, there are a lot of drones on display this week at CES. Almost all of them have one thing in common, however: people can’t ride in them. We say “almost all,” as there is one exception. Ehang’s 184 AAV (Autonomous Aerial Vehicle) is designed to carry a single human passenger, autonomously flying them from one location to another.

Ehang CEO Huazhi Hu began designing the one-seater electric drone a couple of years ago, after two of his pilot friends were killed in plane crashes. He decided that people needed a form of short-to-medium-distance personal air transport that didn’t require them to have a pilot’s license, and that took much of the danger out of low-altitude flight.

The idea behind the Chinese-built 184 is that users will simply get in, power it up, select their destination using a 12-inch touchscreen tablet display, then press the “take-off” button. The drone’s automated flight systems will take over from there, managing tasks such as communication with air traffic control and other aircraft, obstacle avoidance, and of course navigation – it will always choose the fastest yet safest route between its present location and its destination.

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Automated flight from point to point. We may be getting close to the dream of flying cars after all.

[Scuba]

1. Mine leaks oil and the stereo is second-rate.

[Mnemosyne]

4. Mine leaks oil and takes 8 - tracks, this new one looks sweet! nt

[MineralMan]

2. Gosh...what could go wrong?

Interesting as a concept. Worthless as a practical transportation solution. Such a vehicle would never be approved by the FAA. Now, a piloted version might, but not this.

[FLPanhandle]

3. Actually, I think a computer controlled aircraft might be safer

I've seen the yahoo's flying ultralights around Florida waterways and they seem more dangerous.

[MineralMan]

6. Sure. Computers never crash or anything.

Right.

[Katashi_itto]

7. Crash much Less than Humans. Whats your point?

[MineralMan]

10. I made my point above.

Why do you ask?

[Katashi_itto]

15. You made no point at all. Why do you ask?

[ChisolmTrailDem]

11. You're welcome to stay on the ground in your Kia. And I'll do the same in mine...

There's going to have to be backups to backups in that thing, as well as a long history of successful living while using one, before I'll give up my Optima Hybrid.

[MineralMan]

13. Autonomous flying vehicles

are not going to be approved by the FAA, which is very focused on humans being in control of aircraft. I can't imagine any circumstance where they'd be comfortable with such little quadracopters flying around with passengers in them.

I have my doubts about driverless cars, too, really.

I won't get into any of them.

[FLPanhandle]

16. Times change with technology

Eventually computer controlled autonomous cars and planes will be part of our lifestyle. We are early in the transition just like in the early 1900's with that new technology of horseless carriages.

I predict in the next decade you'll see both.

[Heeeeers Johnny]

12. Exactly!

Computer piloted takes all the fun away from tailgating (or would it be rotorgating?), cutting off
and laying on the horn at other drone operators.

[sufrommich]

5. Well,there's our flying car. nt

[Heeeeers Johnny]

8. Awesome!

[Iggo]

9. Um, no.

If my plane's in trouble, I want a pilot who gives a shit whether s/he lives or dies.

[chalmers]

14. Isn't that just a helicopter

drones dont have people

[FLPanhandle]

18. I guess autonomously controlled quad copter would be more accurate

The probably used the drone title due to the design and autonomous control

[Initech]

17. Shut up and take my money now!

Not having to sit in LA traffic would be the greatest thing ever!

[FLPanhandle]

19. I think an Uber type app based on these would be great

Order up your drone. Climb in and type in where you want to go. Sit back and enjoy the view.