If approved by authories, “taxi-drones” could be an operational entity in Dubai in 2018, thanks to
EHang Inc., a Chinese startup, Arabian Business reported.
Passengers of the taxi-type system which flies, can select a flight path that has already been
programmed and the E-184 drone will take them to their destination. According to the company,
the drone in able to remain airborne for 25 minutes at a time and can go 62 miles per hour, at
cruising.

The company’s headquarters is located in the outskirts of the city of Guangzhou, China, which
is focused on moving toward newer technology. The headquarters themselves, where the drone
is currently being tested is at a former theme park which is no longer in use. CEO of EHang Inc., Huazhi Hu said the drone’s flight functions off of four battery powered propellers and comes with a navigational system which is fully automated and functional.

Hu said the company hopes to expand these “taxi-drones” internationally and already plans to
sign plans to make it a reality in unnamed European cities, Saudi Arabia and Singapore.
“We will start mass production of our passenger drones at the beginning of next year,” Hu told
Bloomberg TV, Arabian Business reported. “We also plan to install fully automated production
lines to enlarge manufacturing capacity in 2018.”
So far, the E-184 drone is able to transport one passenger at a time, but the company is
working toward a two-passenger model.

(Picture courtesy: www.tahawultech.com)