Thales received the first full DVR ever granted by EASA to operate light UAS in medium risk, SAIL III. This DVR process set in place in April 2021 by the Agency aims at ensuring safe drone operations. Design Verification Report (DVR) is a new process set up by EASA1 to grant UAS design approvals for […]
A new REVOLVER launcher system, designed to fit within the cargo compartment of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, has been unveiled, showcasing unprecedented capabilities in deploying Boeing X-51A Waverider hypersonic cruise missiles. This state-of-the-art launcher features two sequentially installed drums and an advanced electromagnetic catapult mechanism, enabling the rapid launch of up to 12 Boeing […]
NextNorth Air Mobility,Lda, an airline specializing in air taxis, and FlyNow Aviation GmbH, a developer of modular electric eCopters, have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly advance Urban Air Mobility (UAM) solutions, with a focus on the Middle Eastern region. This MoU is a direct outcome of the collaborative discussions […]
Innovative Solution Enhances Mobile Network Recovery During Emergencies Primoco UAV SE and T-Mobile Czech Republic have successfully integrated an LTE network BTS base station into the Primoco UAV One 150 unmanned aerial vehicle. This collaboration aims to significantly reduce mobile network recovery time during emergencies, with potential applications across the European Union. Current mobile crisis […]
by DRONELIFE Contributing Editor Paul Rossi Don’t miss Paul with co-pilots Terry and Samuel on the new Weekly Wings podcast! Drone news from the pilot perspective. In the ever-evolving world of drone technology, precision and efficiency are the cornerstones of successful operations. Recently, Flytrex, a leading name in drone delivery solutions, shared an insightful article […]
Don’t miss the latest edition of the new drone industry podcast from DRONELIFE, Weekly Wings! The current news and big Issues, from the pilot perspective. In this episode, Paul Rossi, Samuel Stansberry and Terry Neff dive into the latest advancements and challenges in the drone industry. Join us as we kick off with a fascinating […]
Chairs of Homeland Security and Energy and Commerce Committees Urge DHS and DOE to Release Information on Potential Threats On June 20, 2024, House Committee on Homeland Security Chair Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), and House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and […]
EHang, the Chinese electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has made some serious waves in the urban air mobility (UAM) race as of late. While passenger drone taxis are still a futuristic vision for many, EHang passenger drones are here. Over the past few months, EHang has been racking up real-world experience with its autonomous EH216-S aircraft.
EHang recently completed the first passenger-carrying eVTOL demo flights outside of China in Abu Dhabi, which is a wealthy Middle Eastern city in the United Arab Emirates. That same drone also flew in April 2024 as the first autonomous eVTOL flight at the DRIFTx event — which also was held in Abu Dhabi.
That passenger flight was done in tandem with flights of the EH216-F, which is designed for high-rise firefighting, as well as the EH216-L, which is designed for aerial logistics. The flights happened at the Emirates Falcons Aviation Club in Al Ali, Abu Dhabi with approval by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
Now those were just demonstrations, but EHang is setting its sights on actual routes. The city of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China, seems to be at the forefront of this effort. There’s been talk of Wuxi launching an inaugural eVTOL route. While details are still scarce, it hints at a future where drone taxis become an integrated part of our transportation network.
That said, EHang recently launched its first demo flight of the route, in a video shared to EHang’s own social media accounts, which you can see below:
Accelerating Commercial Operations – Our pilotless eVTOL EH216-S recently took off from Taihu Square in Wuxi, a renowned tourist city in China, showcasing its low-altitude sightseeing scenarios. This marks the first demo flight of Wuxi’s inaugural eVTOL route!
Other cities want in, too. On May 31, 2024, EHang announced that the Xishan Tourism department had ordered 50 units of EHang’s EH216-S pilotless aircraft, with more to come over the next few years. The city, located in China’s Shanxi Province, wants to use the passenger drones for aerial tourism.
“The low-altitude economy is a representative of new productive forces and serves as a new track for industrial development as well as a new engine driving economic growth,” Xiangjun Jin, Governor of Shanxi Province, said in a prepared statement. “We hope that EHang’s expertise in commercializing the low-altitude economy would be a valuable source of inspiration and reference for Shanxi’s development in this area.”
What we know so far about the EH216 EHang passenger drones
The EH216-S is designed for intra-city passenger transportation, aerial sightseeing and air taxi service. The aircraft holds the world’s first type certificate, production certificate and standard airworthiness certificate for passenger-carrying pilotless eVTOL aircraft —— all issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
EHang’s EH216 is a two-seater, fully autonomous vehicle that looks like a giant quadcopter drone. It boasts electric propulsion for quiet operation and a claimed range of around 31 miles (50 kilometers) on a single charge.
The state of passenger drones in 2024
The ASKA A5. (Photo courtesy of ASKA).
EHang is a huge name in passenger drones, but it’s not the only key player there right now. Volocopter, a German company backed by Daimler, leads with its multi-rotor electric Volocopter VC200. There’s also a passenger drone called ASKA A5. Made by Mountain View, California-based company ASKA, the ASKA A5 is the world’s first flying car to start the type certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration.
And while EHang passenger drones flew in Abu Dhabi, other drones are flying not far away in Dubai. Earlier in 2024, Joby Aviation, which leads the market for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, signed a landmark agreement with the Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA). With that, it’ll launch air taxi services in Dubai. Though full commercial operations aren’t set to begin until 2026, Joby aims for initial tests and demonstrations as early as 2025.
The Ukrainians call it a “barn” tank, a bizarre-looking Russian battlefield vehicle captured by Kyiv’s forces that shows how troops are trying to adapt to the constant threat of drone attacks. The vehicle, built from a ramshackle, rusted T-62 tank, was modified to have a boxy metal shell as its exterior, a cage at its […]
Axon, the global public safety technology leader, and Skydio, a U.S. drone manufacturer and specialist in autonomous flight, have announced the launch of an end-to-end offering for drones in public safety, including a scalable Drone as First Responder (DFR) solution. Drone as First Responder allows agencies to deploy remotely piloted drones to emergency calls, often […]
Thales received the first full DVR ever granted by EASA to operate light UAS in medium risk, SAIL III. This DVR process set in place in April 2021 by the Agency aims at ensuring safe drone operations. Design Verification Report (DVR) is a new process set up by EASA1 to grant UAS design approvals for […]
