1st drone capable of carrying human passenger unveiled at CES 2016

PanARMENIAN.Net - The first drone capable of carrying a human passenger was unveiled at CES 2016 when Chinese company Ehang Inc lifted the lid on the Ehang 184, according to Digital Spy.

Equipped with four propellers, the mini-helicopter can transport a single person for 20 miles, as long as they weigh less than 15.5 stone.

The drone is electric-powered and can be fully charged in two hours. Passengers set a flight plan on a touchscreen tablet device before issuing 'take off' and 'land' commands.

Ehang claims the chopper has been test flown over 100 times in a forested area in Guangzhou, China, including journeys with a passenger on board.

The company is aiming to sell the Ehang 184 for between $200,000 and $300,000 this year, but there are likely to be some legal obstacles to work around first.

Unmanned drone usage is under strict scrutiny from the authorities, so expect the subject of passenger transit to spark intense debate.

To add a measure of controversy, Ehang's aircraft does not include physical controls that the passenger can fall back on in the event of an emergency.

But the firm claims that the craft is capable of performing a rough landing with just one of its propellers in working order. It also has plans to set up a remote control centre to assist those who run into issues.