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[Kaladin]

Chinese drone-maker Ehang has developed the 184, a prototype of the first autonomous drone that will fly humans.

The helicopter-like flying machine seats one, and after the flier enters the destination, it will require just two button presses from the rider: take off and land. That's all it takes to pilot the thing.

The 184 (one passenger, eight propellers, four arms), isn't ready to fly just yet. There are all kinds of government clearances that it will have to obtain before you can fly by drone to work. But Ehang says it is working closely with government agencies on the technology.

Once it goes into production, it will take off vertically (no need for a runway), and land similarly. When in the air, it's capable of speeds of up to 62 miles per hour. The 184 can travel up to 11,480 feet, and it's got a battery pack that's capable of 23 minutes of flying time.

It's tiny too: just 18 feet long. But it's actually capable of being smaller than that: it can be folded into a five-foot space, so it can fit right into a standard parking spot.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/01/06/tec...6-ehang-drone0420AMVODtopLink&linkId=20155268

One step closer to the aerial highways we've been promised for years in science fiction.

 

[Mr.Mike]

A self-driving helicopter?

 

[Kaladin]

A self-driving helicopter?

Yep.

 

[valkillmore]

Tha fewchah!

 

[xxracerxx]

Call me when I can get animal skins on that sucker.

 

[MayMay]

That doesnt seem scary at all

 

[davepoobond]

we've come full circle


its a helicopter, folks

 

[TheRealTalker]

Call me when I can get animal skins on that sucker.

he loved his cat so much

he loved it so much guys

 

[AGoodODST]

So a helicopter.

 

[Melon Husk]

Hoverboards and flying cars weren't quite what we expected, but we've arrived into the future.

Call me when I can get animal skins on that sucker.

FUTURE

 

[ItIsOkBro]

Can't wait for the drone operated prostitution business.

 

[bigmf]

A helicopter that can go just over two miles. Seems useful.

23 minutes until a two mile drop from the sky.

 

[brianjones]

what could go wronge

 

[Ivan Amiibo]

what could go wronge

 

[ThatGayWolf]

Sooo.... what happens if there's an electrical fault midair?

 

[Admiral Woofington]

why yes I do want to fly in the air putting my life in the hands of a toaster

edit: and 23 minutes of flying ooh boy rick ooh eeh

 

[Calidor]

Yeah, I'm not going into a chinese self driving flying drone

 

[magnifico]

Sooo.... what happens if there's an electrical fault midair?

Eh. Parachute deployments I'm sure.

 

[Escape Goat]

 

[FunkyPajamas]

Sooo.... what happens if there's an electrical fault midair?

Gravity 2.

why yes I do want to fly in the air putting my life in the hands of a toaster

edit: and 23 minutes of flying ooh boy rick ooh eeh

lol this. 11,480 feet and 23 minutes of autonomy? Thanks but no thanks.

 

[akira28]

he loved his cat so much

he loved it so much guys

this could start an entire new genre of helicopterdong and catdrones and squadrons of other lol-copters for the troll patrol.

 

[jett]

A self-driving helicopter?

Not even once.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

I like the part about no human controls whatsoever and if something goes wrong the manufacturer will take remote control just in case...

WTF #@#@#$@ %!!@!@#@#$#$$#

Bullshit I'm getting in a flying vehicle with no real time manual controls for backup safety...FUCK THAT.

 

[BronsonLee]

GET THE HELL OFF OF ME
NO
DON'T FULTON ME GODDAMNI-

 

[Ivan Amiibo]

Yeah, I'm not going into a chinese self driving flying drone

in b4 sketchy chinese drones are the hot gift of 2016, like sketchy chinese hoverboards were this year

 

[Slayven]

So a helicopter.

.

 

[Raist]

it will require just two button presses from the rider: take off and land.

No eject button?

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

23 minutes of flying time.

Ooo I can squeeze in one episode of Fuller House.

 

[Log4Girlz]

Now we just need one that can lift an American

 

[Graphics Horse]

helicopterdong

what

 

[R1CHO]

edit: and 23 minutes of flying ooh boy rick ooh eeh

Totally enough to go to work everyday.

Well, to try to go once and die on the way at least.

 

[Wag]

 

[Dennis]

Call me when I can get animal skins on that sucker.

Gaze in awe upon Cat-GAF.

 

[Escape Goat]

Now we just need one that can lift an American

Its not like were going to be using these on Americans. Silly Log.

 

[darkwing-buck]

Call me when I can get animal skins on that sucker.

 

[Stupid Sexy Flanders]

How would it know to avoid buildings?

And if you enter your companys address/car park how would you be able to avoid crushing your co-workers car when you land

 

[Tom Nook]

Call me when I can get animal skins on that sucker.

Poor Cat.

 

[perfectchaos007]

It can carry a Chinese person, but can it carry an American who gets around in a Rascal?

 

[DrGonzo615]

Chinese drone-maker Ehang

No thanks...

 

[Zaph]

220 pound limit, so no fatties

 

[Jest Chillin]

I too immediately thought the US will just make their own version and drop off Chuck Norris to defeat our enemies.

 

[User 406]

Hey, you whining-ass whiners always complaining about no flying cars, well there it is. Same principle as the self-driving car. The robot will do a better job of avoiding collisions and not doing basic stupid monkey shit. As if your no-pilot-license-having asses were gonna be allowed to fly one manually anyway, please.

 

[xxracerxx]

Hey, you whining-ass whiners always complaining about no flying cars, well there it is. Same principle as the self-driving car. The robot will do a better job of avoiding collisions and not doing basic stupid monkey shit. As if your no-pilot-license-having asses were gonna be allowed to fly one manually anyway, please.

This is as much a flying car as those "hoverboards."

 

[Kas]

YES FUNCTIONING VTOLS!!!


The applications for this could be insane, and possible benefits huge.

But I can see this also being used for military applications, and that makes me sad.

 

[Nafai1123]

Improve the range and I'd used this thing to commute to work. It would beat the hell out of sitting in traffic.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

Hey, you whining-ass whiners always complaining about no flying cars, well there it is. Same principle as the self-driving car. The robot will do a better job of avoiding collisions and not doing basic stupid monkey shit. As if your no-pilot-license-having asses were gonna be allowed to fly one manually anyway, please.

You mean years of arcade helicopter cabinet controls haven't prepared me for this flying car future?...shit.

 

[DrGonzo615]

Thats what they show the public....

This is what it actually looks like

 

[Mohonky]

How would it know to avoid buildings?

And if you enter your companys address/car park how would you be able to avoid crushing your co-workers car when you land

You can already put sonar, radar and other devices on the smaller drones for crash avoidance, obviously something like that you want it to be pretty bloody good, but it's achievable. Beside that, it would be like actual air liners that cruise around at an allocated altitude to avoid other air traffic and terrain.

As to decapitating your co-workers....no idea.

this could start an entire new genre of helicopterdong and catdrones and squadrons of other lol-copters for the troll patrol.

These guys have already done a rat quad (I believe that was their first) and saw them trying to make a shark into a plane. I believe the last I saw they were turning a beaver or something into a remote submarine.

 

[BumRush]

Yeah, I'm not going into a chinese self driving flying drone

Lol

 

[Madness]

Singular VTOL's have long been thought of as a practical application in the military for a while. Beyond that, just imagine it being used for medical services or remote areas, being able to easily get to hard to reach areas. The fact it's autonomous is crazy.

Who knows what it'll be like in 20-30 years with self driving cars, self parking cars already.