Passenger drone

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Ehang 184 passenger drone demonstration NCTranspoSummit-2020.01.08-0197 (49350703313).jpg
Ehang 184 passenger drone demonstration

A passenger drone is an autonomous aircraft that is designed to carry a small number of passengers to a destination. [1]

Contents

In 2021, Ehang, a technology company based in Guangzhou, China, developed the Ehang 184, the world's first passenger drone. [1]

History

Unmanned aerial vehicles were first introduced in World War 1, when Britain first developed the Aerial Target, an aircraft controlled remotely through radio signals. A year later in the United States, testing of Kettering Bug, a 12-foot long biplane attached with a bomb and that launched via a “slingshot-like rail”, was also under progress. [2] Both of their unreliable test results and their possibility of endangering friendly troops in deployment caused neither aircraft to be used during the war. Production of UAVs continued after World War I and into World War II and the Vietnam War, where they would be invaluable in assisting with training as well as reconnaissance. [3]

Late 20th century also saw the proposition and development of unique methods of travel, including personal jetpacks and even flying cars. While the previously mentioned are not drones, they serve as a precursor and foundation for the passenger drones of today.  

The first passenger drone was unveiled on January 6 of 2016 at the international Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Produced by Ehang, a Chinese company based in Guangzhou, the 184 was a one passenger drone equipped with four propellers that could fly for approximately 23 minutes at a top speed of 63 mph. [4] Since then, many new companies have entered the market, but none yet have been accessible by the public.

Technological development

Since 2013, [5] improvements in designs to wing structures have contributed to the economic feasibility of passenger drones. [6] New structural advancements, such as the flapping-wing propulsion system based on the mechanisms of birds’ wings, are more available as they have proven their capabilities in laboratory testing. [5] Currently, most market-ready drones are delivery drones with a carrying capacity limited to small packages - with a typical max capacity of under 5 pounds. [7]

However, while the technology exists for drones with larger carrying capacities, specifically those capable of carrying multiple humans, the execution of this technology is not yet market accessible. [6] This capacity limit must be addressed for passenger drones; given current designs strive to carry a maximum of 5 people. [8] However, some estimates believe that passengers drones could become a reality, specifically for paid transportation and emergency purposes, as early as 2026. [6] With implementation of this technology, there could be significant effects on ground traffic including reducing gridlock in heavily congested areas and conserving up to 15% of the fuel currently used in heavy traffic patterns. [9]

However, extensive growth of the passenger drone market also risks clouding the low-altitude airspace and causing new safety risks. [8] However, this concern is being addressed by recent advancements in the Internet of Drones (IoD) which links drones together to ensure appropriate pathing and reduce mid-air collisions. [10] While this brings additional security issues, including maintaining reliable communication channels in the case of technological failure, researchers hope that this will help reduce crashes that can result in damage to passengers, buildings, and people in and around the airspace. [10]  

Notable companies

Ehang is a Chinese company that has developed numerous drones including passenger plane Ehang 184. EHang 184 was their first model, developed as an eight dual rotor wing blade drone that can carry two passengers. [11] The model was retired in 2020 and is replaced by the Ehang 216. Ehang also released a one passenger drone, Ehang 116. [12] Ehang in 2021 unveiled the model VT-30. VT-30 is designed to have eight dual rotor wing blades to complement its fixed wing platform. [13]

Flyastro, a Texas-based drone company, developed the Astro ALTA, with two and four person passenger models. [14] The company is known for being the first to develop a solar-powered airplane. [15] The development team initially began with the model, Elroy. It was a two passenger drone with similar design to the ALTA. [16] Once flight was achieved, the model Astro ALTA began development.

Joby Aviation is a California based company that has developed a five passenger drone, with one seat for the pilot. The company expects to complete its FAA certification process 2022. Joby in 2020 acquired a 75 million dollar investment from service provider Uber Technologies Inc., leading to Uber Elevate and Expands partnership. [17]

Archer Aviation is a California-based company that has developed a two passenger model called Maker. [18] It has fixed wings with twelve rotor wings. Archer is developing five person model. [19] United Airlines has partnered with Archer for commercial sale of the model, Maker. Maker is expected to be released within Los Angeles and Miami by 2024. [20]

CityAirbus is a drone project developed by Airbus, a European multinational aerospace company, based in the Netherlands. CityAirbus has developed a four- person passenger drone with fixed wings that include rotor wing blades. Its expected certification for public flight is in 2025. [21]

Boeing, an American multinational aviation corporation is developing a passenger drone model called the Passenger Air Vehicle (PAV). The model is a fixed wing with eight rotor blade wings attached onto a platform underneath the base structure. This model can hold two passengers and still is in development. [22]

Volocopter is a German aircraft manufacturer that is developing a passenger drone called Volocity. The model consist of eighteen rotor wings above the cockpit on a circular ring. [23] Japan Airlines, an investor of Volocopter plans to have public test in Japan as early as 2023. [24]

Future use

Potential benefits

Passenger drones can greatly reduce the time for travel. As passenger drones flight paths are not restricted by conventional roads, the travel distance is shortened. Current ventures such as Joby Aviation, aftering acquiring Uber Air, plan to take advantage of this technology in the form of air taxis. [25] Other potential benefits include the use of passenger drones by emergency services such as search and rescue missions and the delivery of life saving goods. Companies like Ehang have already begun using passenger drones as emergency vehicles as a response to the potential river collapses during the flood season in China. [26]

Concerns

Passenger and air traffic safety remains at the forefront of concerns. Regulations for air traffic centered around passenger drones are still underway and would continue to develop with increasing use cases for passenger drones. Remote security threats on commercial drones such as Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attack have also exposed the vulnerabilities in current drone systems. [27] Among American adults, 54 percent say that they would feel unsafe flying inside a passenger drone. Passenger drones can be very noisy; a single passenger drone such as Joby Aviation’s all-electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) aircraft has an estimated noise production of 70 decibels (dB), a noise level equating to “loud traffic”. [28]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aircraft</span> Vehicle or machine that is able to fly by gaining support from the air

An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or, in a few cases, direct downward thrust from its engines. Common examples of aircraft include airplanes, helicopters, airships, gliders, paramotors, and hot air balloons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air taxi</span> Small commercial aircraft which makes short flights on demand

The air taxi market is an application of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) – air transportation systems that utilize advanced technologies such as vertical takeoffs, autonomous capabilities, or fully-electric systems – for short to mid range on-demand flights. Many AAM vehicles are designed for Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) or Vertical Takeoff and Landings (VTOL); electric VTOL aircraft are also prominent, known as eVTOLs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal air vehicle</span> Type of aircraft

A personal air vehicle (PAV) is a proposed class of passenger aircraft providing on-demand air transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen-powered aircraft</span> Type of airplane

A hydrogen-powered aircraft is an aeroplane that uses hydrogen fuel as a power source. Hydrogen can either be burned in a jet engine or another kind of internal combustion engine, or can be used to power a fuel cell to generate electricity to power an electric propulsor. It cannot be stored in a traditional wet wing, and hydrogen tanks have to be housed in the fuselage or be supported by the wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carter PAV</span> Two-bladed compound autogyro

The Carter PAV is a two-bladed, compound autogyro developed by Carter Aviation Technologies to demonstrate slowed rotor technology. The design has an unpowered rotor mounted on top of the fuselage, wings like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft mounted underneath, and a controllable pitch pusher propeller at the rear of the fuselage. Heavy weights are placed in the rotor tips to enhance rotational energy and to reduce flapping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multirotor</span>

A multirotor or multicopter is a rotorcraft with more than two lift-generating rotors. An advantage of multirotor aircraft is the simpler rotor mechanics required for flight control. Unlike single- and double-rotor helicopters which use complex variable pitch rotors whose pitch varies as the blade rotates for flight stability and control, multirotors often use fixed-pitch blades; control of vehicle motion is achieved by varying the relative speed of each rotor to change the thrust and torque produced by each.

Guangzhou EHang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd. is a company based in Guangzhou, China that develops and manufactures autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) and passenger AAVs which have entered service in China for aerial cinematography, photography, emergency response, and survey missions.

Urban air mobility (UAM) is the use of small, highly automated aircraft to carry passengers or cargo at lower altitudes in urban and suburban areas which have been developed in response to traffic congestion. It usually refers to existing and emerging technologies such as traditional helicopters, vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (VTOL), electrically propelled vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft (eVTOL), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These aircraft are characterized by the use of multiple electric-powered rotors or fans for lift and propulsion, along with fly-by-wire systems to control them. Inventors have explored urban air mobility concepts since the early days of powered flight. However, advances in materials, computerized flight controls, batteries and electric motors improved innovation and designs beginning in the late 2010s. Most UAM proponents envision that the aircraft will be owned and operated by professional operators, as with taxis, rather than by private individuals.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airbus A³ Vahana</span> Former personal air vehicle prototype

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joby Aviation</span> American aviation company

Joby Aviation is a United States venture-backed aviation company, developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that it intends to operate as an air taxi service. Joby Aviation is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, and has offices in San Carlos, California; Marina, California; and Munich, Germany.

Volocopter GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Bruchsal and founded by Alexander Zosel and Stephan Wolf. The company specializes in the design of electric multirotor helicopters in the form of personal air vehicles, designed for air taxi use. The CEO is Dirk Hoke and chairman Stefan Klocke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Workhorse SureFly</span> Vertical take-off and landing aircraft

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An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is a variety of VTOL aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically. This technology came about owing to major advances in electric propulsion and the emerging need for new aerial vehicles for urban air mobility that can enable greener and quieter flights. Electric and hybrid propulsion systems (EHPS) have also the potential of lowering the operating costs of aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wisk Cora</span> Type of aircraft

The Wisk Cora, also known as Generation 4 and Generation 5, is an American autonomous personal air vehicle prototype previously developed by the Kitty Hawk Corporation, and subsequently by Wisk Aero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volocopter VoloRegion</span> Proposed personal air vehicle

The VoloRegion is an electrically powered aircraft that can take off and land vertically (eVTOL). It is being developed by the German company Volocopter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archer Aviation</span> American electric aircraft manufacturer

Archer Aviation Inc. is a publicly traded company headquartered in San Jose, California, which is developing eVTOL aircraft.

Wisk Aero is an aerospace manufacturer based in Mountain View, California, United States. The company develops self-flying electric vertical take off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed to be operated as air taxis. The company was formed in 2019 as a partnership between Boeing and Google co-founder Larry Page's Kitty Hawk aircraft company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Advanced air mobility</span> Next generation aviation

Advanced air mobility (AAM) are systems that incorporate support for next-generation transport such as such as remotely piloted, autonomous, or vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. This includes those powered by electric or hybrid-electric propulsion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volocopter Volocity</span> Proposed personal air vehicle

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References

  1. 1 2 "World's first passenger drone unveiled at CES". Reuters. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Stamp, Jimmy. "Unmanned Drones Have Been Around Since World War I". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "A Brief History of Drones". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "First passenger drone makes its debut at CES". The Guardian. Associated Press. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 Gerdes, John W.; Roberts, Luke; Barnett, Eli; Kempny, Johannes; Perez-Rosado, Ariel; Bruck, Hugh A.; Gupta, Satyandra K. (12 February 2014). "Wing Performance Characterization for Flapping Wing Air Vehicles". Volume 6B: 37th Mechanisms and Robotics Conference. American Society of Mechanical Engineers Digital Collection. doi:10.1115/DETC2013-12479. ISBN   978-0-7918-5594-2.
  6. 1 2 3 Markets, Research and (30 July 2021). "Drone Taxi Market by Range, Propulsion, Autonomy, Passenger Capacity, System, End-use & Region - Global Forecast to 2030". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  7. ↑ Ric (29 September 2015). "How much weight can delivery drones carry?". UnmannedCargo.org. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  8. 1 2 Hassanalian, M.; Abdelkefi, A. (1 May 2017). "Classifications, applications, and design challenges of drones: A review". Progress in Aerospace Sciences. 91: 99–131. Bibcode:2017PrAeS..91...99H. doi:10.1016/j.paerosci.2017.04.003. ISSN   0376-0421.
  9. ↑ Lin, Zhenhong; Xie, Fei; Ou, Shiqi (Shawn) (1 December 2020). "Modeling the External Effects of Air Taxis in Reducing the Energy Consumption of Road Traffic". Transportation Research Record. 2674 (12): 176–187. doi:10.1177/0361198120952791. ISSN   0361-1981. S2CID   224967087.
  10. 1 2 Abdelmaboud, Abdelzahir (January 2021). "The Internet of Drones: Requirements, Taxonomy, Recent Advances, and Challenges of Research Trends". Sensors. 21 (17): 5718. Bibcode:2021Senso..21.5718A. doi: 10.3390/s21175718 . PMC   8433880 . PMID   34502608.
  11. ↑ "EHang | UAM - Passenger Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV)". www.ehang.com. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  12. ↑ "EHang 184 (defunct)". evtol.news. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  13. ↑ Limited, EHang Holdings (27 September 2021). "EHang Long-Range VT-30 AAV Makes Global Debut Before Zhuhai Airshow". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved 5 November 2021.{{cite press release}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ↑ "Design" . Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  15. ↑ Boucher, Robert J. (1985). "Sunrise, the world's first solar-powered airplane". Journal of Aircraft. 22 (10): 840–846. doi:10.2514/3.45213.
  16. ↑ "Astro Aerospace Elroy". evtol.news. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "Joby Aviation Welcomes New $75M Investment from Uber as it Acquires Uber Elevate and Expands Partnership | Joby". www.jobyaviation.com. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "Archer's Maker Aircraft". www.archer.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  19. ↑ "Archer (Unnamed Five Seat eVTOL)". evtol.news. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  20. ↑ "Archer's flying taxi makes splashy debut in heated market". Reuters. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  21. ↑ "Airbus reveals the next generation of CityAirbus". Airbus. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  22. ↑ "Boeing: Autonomous Flying Taxi: EVTOL Unmanned Solar Aircraft System". www.boeing.com. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  23. ↑ "VoloCity". Volocopter. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  24. ↑ Doll, Scooter (21 October 2021). "Volocopter is bringing eVTOL vehicles to Japan with public test flights in 2023". Electrek. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  25. ↑ "Joby acquires Uber Elevate". www.aopa.org. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  26. ↑ McNabb, Miriam (30 April 2020). "EHang Demonstrates Passenger Drones for Emergency Response". DRONELIFE. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  27. ↑ Rodday, Nils Miro; Schmidt, Ricardo de O.; Pras, Aiko (April 2016). "Exploring security vulnerabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles". NOMS 2016 - 2016 IEEE/IFIP Network Operations and Management Symposium (PDF). pp. 993–994. doi:10.1109/NOMS.2016.7502939. ISBN   978-1-5090-0223-8. S2CID   82470.
  28. ↑ Tegler, Jan (30 March 2020). "Noise Alert!". Aerospace America.
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