Large quadcopter for humans. Unmanned drone for transporting people. Passenger quadcopter – what capabilities does the device have?

A passenger quadcopter has already been developed in China, the USA, and England. The creators are looking far into the future. The device can become an excellent analogue of ground transportation. In China this type The device was created by the Ehang company, at the moment the company is carrying out a number of other developments to create copters capable of transporting people. A copter for transporting people has already been launched in Singapore, performing the functions of an air taxi.

Passenger quadcopter – what capabilities does the device have?

The passenger quadcopter is capable of staying in the air for up to 25 minutes.
The maximum flight speed is 100 km/h; manufacturers are working to increase this parameter.
The batteries can hold a charge for up to 2 hours.
The maximum flight range of the device is up to 16 km.
The recommended flight altitude is 300-500 meters, the maximum is up to 3.5 km.

How can a drone be used to transport people?

The developers plan to use this technology as an air taxi, cheaper than flying a helicopter, the result is the same. Moreover, the passenger quadcopter has the ability to program the flight path; the client will only need to press three buttons - route, takeoff, landing. Another problem facing factories producing this equipment is the reduction in price of the product. It is currently worth up to $300,000. Was the article interesting? Bookmark our site so you don't lose it. Our company ARMAIR supplies more than 10 types of different unmanned aerial vehicles. The site also presents gyrocopters of domestic and foreign origin. Check out all the device models right now! Are you planning to buy drones? Need a price estimate? Leave a request or call us right now!

You won’t surprise anyone with an ordinary drone, but a quadcopter for transporting people is a new product that may soon be put into mass production. Such models evoke admiration among ordinary people, delight among passengers and are the pride of their owners.

The idea of a copter for transporting people hung in the air for a long time until drone manufacturers Ehang from China jumped on it. Their Model 184 created quite a stir. With a weight of 200 kg, a height of 1.5 m and a load capacity of 100 kg, this copter can be called a giant. The developers' idea was to create an absolutely safe quadcopter for transporting people - they achieved their goal.

You can read the latest news about drones, for example, how a quadcopter saved a man’s life. The autonomous helicopter is equipped with a powerful propulsion system and powerful rotors (8 pieces). Thanks to this, the device can lift the weight of one passenger. The copter is capable of covering distances of 16 km. The innovative drone operates without additional recharging for 23 minutes, since the model is equipped with unique lithium batteries that save charge for a long time.

The advantages of such vehicles include:

High security (until the air is filled with taxi drones).
Originality and novelty - you can’t argue with that. Quadcopters are now as amazing as cars once were:
Opening up opportunities in the field of transportation - limitless ideas for your own business built on quadcopters for transporting people.
In addition, there is no need to perform any actions that would regulate the copter during flight. The passenger can press the “start” button, having previously specified the route on the smartphone, and fly to the destination.

It would seem that this is an amazing thing with an equally wonderful performance. Today, the disadvantages of such a quadcopter for transporting people, unfortunately, prevail:

Some cities do not have specially equipped places for takeoff and landing, which significantly reduces the practicality of the drone. Large cities have standard helipads where landings are possible.

The high cost of quadcopters for transporting people and the high cost of flights.
The carrying capacity and battery capacity are still too small.
Absolute uncertainty on the legal side.

From this it can be understood that the day for such transport (unmanned single-seater taxis) has not yet come. A Chinese manufacturer has taken the first successful steps towards mass production of autonomous radio-controlled helicopters.

Their implementation in everyday life requires the solution of two issues - legal (with obtaining permission to operate after testing the drone in real transportation of people) and technical (with improvement of the model’s components). Then it will be possible to say with confidence that the “taxi of the future” will become a reality in everyday life.

Hello, drone lovers and lovers of exciting piloting of high-tech copters! It is probably obvious to most of our readers that unmanned technologies are progressing incredibly quickly, and interest in them from the media is growing even faster. A quadcopter has become a reliable assistant for humans, indispensable in various situations.

Today we can see how copters perform many tasks and functions, both in the entertainment, household and technical spheres. But this does not stop manufacturers of modern UAVs from improving them, creating new ideological concepts and further improving their own developments.

Currently, quadrics are widely used for delivering humanitarian supplies to points destroyed by war or natural disasters, conducting large-scale reconnaissance, conducting professional and amateur filming, assisting repair and construction teams, surveillance services and other departments.

One of the most attractive prospects is a transport quadcopter capable of transporting people. This revolutionary idea came to UAV developers relatively recently, but today companies from the United Arab Emirates, China and Russia are ready to present to the world the first successful prototypes of aircraft for transporting people. We will talk about the success of such developments and their prospects today.

Experts in the field of radio and aircraft engineering are confident that the main advantage of a passenger quadcopter is its comparative cheapness, as well as ease of operation and environmental safety. According to experts, such aerial multicopters can be equal in cost to mass passenger transport.

The layout of the flying drone, which includes a number of traction propellers, helps reduce the load on the general mechanics of the UAV, thus increasing the wear resistance and reliability of the propeller-motor groups. In combination with this technical advantage, modern electronics will greatly simplify the control of such quadcopters and increase the degree of safety when moving.

How can drones be used to transport people?

How realistic are such flights and are they possible in principle in the near future? The answer to this question was the demonstration of the first UAV with a person on board - Hoverbike Scorpion 3.

We will talk more about the unit and this event a little later, but now let’s look at the possibilities of transportation at the present time and the problems that prevent the implementation of mass transportation of passengers using quadcopters today.

Speaking about the possibilities of using copters for mass transportation of people, experts offer dozens of various options, starting with public transport units and ending with service resources.

Already today, “winged taxis” have seen the light of day in China and have been tested in various weather conditions. Such a drone for humans has made more than a thousand test flights, having passed the test of bad weather, darkness and fog. Such unique taxis are distinguished by high speed and, perhaps, in the near future they will displace the usual “checkers”.

Another successful experiment with drone taxis was carried out in Dubai, where a drone taxi made its first flight with passengers on board. The vehicle, called AAT, has two passenger seats and offers high speed.

At the same time, developments in the field of large-sized passenger quad-transport are gaining momentum, again with greetings from the Middle Kingdom. This version of flying “buses” will not only be faster and better in terms of transportation, but also much safer, having well-thought-out and high-quality software on board.

Speaking about the prospects for using quadrons in this context, one cannot fail to mention official transport in the form of emergency vehicles. The prospects for using such aircraft are truly encouraging - such transport will arrive precisely on time, following an optimally designed route and informing the subscriber in advance of the approximate time of arrival. It is possible that calling such a tool will be fully automated, which will eliminate the human factor and all the ensuing peculiarities.

Finally, don't forget. The vehicle will be able to transfer units along safe routes, operating in stealth mode and assisting the operator in navigation.

What problems hinder the development of unmanned transportation today?

Currently, the most significant technical problems include the search for new battery technologies high power. Ideally, such batteries should have an optimized weight-to-capacity ratio, as well as durability and current efficiency. So far, modern copters for humans are capable of flying for up to 23-25 minutes at a maximum speed of 130 km/h, which experts consider a good, but not satisfactory indicator.

Another problem is organization. Most countries in the world have very strict rules regarding air transport and its operation. These rules have been defined and enshrined in the legislation of most countries in accordance with security requirements and anti-terrorism legislation.

In fact, these are two main problems of a global scale, which, although limiting, do not frighten developers of innovative air systems for transporting people. In recent years, such drones have become the subject of active study and implementation in many countries around the world. In this regard, domestic designers are not lagging behind.

Safety

This is one of the key issues that developers of large-sized copters pay special attention to. The design of mini-quads, as practice has shown, provides it with excellent flight characteristics. Even in the event of strong collisions or a sudden fall, well-assembled radio-controlled quadrics retain their integrity.

In their larger analogues for humans, it is planned to introduce compensatory anti-emergency mechanisms that will reduce the risks of falls, as well as significant damage and injury to passengers in emergency situations.

In addition, the software, which is being improved from year to year, will eliminate the human factor, automating flights, creating fast and safe routes, and ensuring the copter’s response is adequate to the situation.

Development of custom flight controller boards and controls is well underway. CPU, integrated into such boards, will be capable of processing multiple tasks simultaneously and monitoring various flight parameters in real time.

Prototypes

And now in more detail about the prototypes and the first attempts to lift a person into the air using quad mechanics. The aforementioned Scorpion 3, the brainchild of the Russian startup Hoversurf, was presented not so long ago in a demo video on YouTube. The device is the third iteration of a hybrid of a quadcopter and a racing motorbike.

Representatives of Hoversurf are talking about creating a device in the future that will be accessible to the average person. The first prototype was made in 2016. By its third incarnation, Scorpion turned out to be more powerful and optimized in terms of control. According to the developers, on the platform of this unit it will be possible to create a full-fledged cargo/passenger class summer car.

The control concept here is built around on-board computer system, allowing you to combine manual and automatic control. The manufacturer has developed its own software designed to limit the characteristics of the quadron for safe amateur flights (initially the equipment configuration was designed for extreme, sport flights.)

Currently, the flight speed is limited to 50 km/h, and the flight altitude is 3 meters. The time the machine stays in the air is 27 minutes with a maximum take-off weight of 250 kg.

Characteristics

Flight altitude –3m
Flight weight – 250 kg
Speed indicator – 50 km/h
Energy block charging time – up to 27 minutes
Engine type – electric turbine
Unit length

Ehang 184

A real, quite serious and relatively successful attempt to build the hovering mass transport of the future was the Ehang-184 drone, presented by the manufacturer of the same name at the CES 2016 exhibition in the USA.

The weight of the quad is 200 kg, and the maximum speed is 100 km/h at an altitude of 3.5 km. Very impressive figures, with the exception of the flight duration, which at the time of presentation did not even reach half an hour.

But now the multicopter fully satisfies all the conditions for transportation safety, providing comfortable and fast flights for people. Below we present detailed technical/flight characteristics of the device, currently available in dozens of test flights.

Characteristics

Flight altitude –3.5 km
Flight weight – 200 kg
Speed indicator – 100 km/h
Energy block charging time – up to 23 minutes
Engine type – electronic, turbine (4x, 250 hp)
Unit length – 5.5 meters
Control type – manual/automatic

Other attempts

Another interesting research in this direction was the Fly-board-Air, which was created by Zapata Racing for more than 4 years. A radio remote control is used to control the hoverboard. Lift into the air is carried out thanks to four gas turbine engines with a power of 250 hp.

The fuel tank of the device is implemented in the form of a backpack behind the pilot’s back, filled with Jet-A1 aviation kerosene. The capacity of such a tank is enough for 4 minutes of piloting. The maximum height reached is 30 meters and the speed is 55 km/h. The initial prototype itself for closed technical tests, according to the developers, has much more impressive indicators - flight time - 10 minutes, altitude - 3 km, speed - 150 km/h.

The future of autonomous transportation

Currently, developers are striving to create an entire aviation system that will be able to provide round-the-clock transportation for people with average incomes. In essence, we are talking about introducing a new type of public transport.

The new EHang 184 drone is certainly a breathtaking sight that deserves special attention. Unlike its relatives, this option is distinguished by a more impressive size and wider application possibilities. The peculiarity is that such a drone is capable of not only transporting small cargo, but also transporting a person.

At first glance, this flying device looks like an exact, but slightly enlarged copy of a traditional drone, which is, in principle, true. There can be a pilot inside the aircraft, and on top the drone is equipped with an additional cabin to carry another passenger. In addition to this, the car has original blades, as well as doors resembling gull wings. This gives the aircraft an intriguing and slightly crazy look.

The EHang 184 is the world's first fully autonomous aircraft designed to fly at low altitude without the need for human control.

Control

All aspects of the flight are controlled using a built-in tablet located inside the passenger cabin. A person only needs to specify a destination and just sit, while the drone will calculate the path and take off and land on its own.

At the moment, the passenger weight is limited to 100 kg, and the device itself has a small luggage compartment, as well as a built-in air conditioner.

Characteristics

The height of the device is about 150 cm, and the weight is 200 kg. The device is equipped with a battery that lasts for a flight of 23 minutes at a speed of 62 miles per hour. The drone takes off and lands vertically, just like a helicopter. The aircraft charges in two to four hours, depending on the charging method.

At the moment, the manufacturer has conducted more than 100 tests and claims that the device is confidently approaching its final stage - entering the market. The drone blades can be removed and folded compactly. Thus, the device easily fits in a regular car parking space.

Safety

The first question that many future users have concerns the operation of the tablet. In particular, we are talking about the possibility of a technical failure or a situation where the tablet may be accidentally broken during a flight. Many are also interested in the problem of the lack of manual control mode using traditional buttons and levers, which are completely absent in such a drone. All functions are taken over by the tablet. The manufacturer claims that the device has many options to solve such problems during the flight. In addition, there is a special flight control center that monitors the operation of all aircraft that are in the air. In the event of an unforeseen situation, the center will make every effort to resolve the problem.

The drone also has a hovering mode. This can be used if, for example, a bird appears ahead, or you just want to stop and admire the scenery. Thanks to this and other additional features, the manufacturer claims that this aircraft is much safer than helicopters or small aircraft.

The manufacturer also claims that, given the specific nature of the aircraft, no special license or additional permission is required for its use. Despite this, the manufacturer understands that this process may encounter a variety of legal and regulatory difficulties.

At the moment, there is no exact cost of such a device, as well as the date of its official release on the market. Despite this, this drone is undoubtedly an oblivious device with a unique design.

The original Ehang 184 drone from the Chinese manufacturer is a large quadcopter for humans that functions as an autonomous helicopter for passengers. In the present, the drone has no similar analogues that would have such functionality. For the first time, the revolutionary technology was presented in Las Vegas at a presentation dedicated to innovative devices.

The main purpose of the Ehang 184 drone is to transport passengers without their interference in the flight process. To do this, the Chinese company equipped the copter with a spacious passenger seat designed for one person, as well as powerful engines capable of powering the machine.

Additionally, the design includes eight heavy-duty rotors, electric motors and high-performance batteries that maintain the charge level for a long time. The original assembly allows you to lift one person into the air and the device’s own weight. The flight range of the autonomous helicopter is colossal - it is capable of covering distances of 16 km.

No less outstanding is the drone's flight time - it operates in operating mode for 23 minutes, and does not require additional battery recharging. Technical characteristics are not all that impresses an autonomous helicopter. When flying, the passenger does not need to take any action to cover the distance. The only thing that is necessary is to program the route. You can do this on a standard phone, then press the “start” button.

Some people are wondering: what to buy - a helicopter or a drone? Information will help you make an error-free choice.

The flight on Ehang 184 will be coordinated by a smart system. Its task is to avoid obstacles along the way, find the shortest route, etc. To be on the safe side, a specialist can join flight control and coordinate the vehicle from the ground station.

The main characteristics of the revolutionary drone, which performs a kind of taxi function, include:

High power of the device - power system of 106 kW.
Duration of charge retention - batteries are designed for 2-4 hours of operating time.
The high speed of the model is about 100 km/h.
The ability to gain greater altitude - the maximum corresponds to 500 meters.
Relative compactness - the weight of the quad reaches only 200 kg.
Economical - the drone consumes power of 14.4 kW/hour.

Now the Chinese manufacturer plans to put the model into mass production - for this it is necessary to confirm the legal status of the model. The fact is that until today the drone has not carried real passengers, so it has not yet been possible to prove the safety of the device. The capabilities of the device were tested without people.

Another point that hinders the widespread use of the model is the lack of special landing sites. Only large cities have them, but such sites are adapted for full-fledged helicopters.