Dubai Approves Autonomous Passenger Drones for City Transport
Dubai’s transport authority will introduce the EHang 184 autonomous drone for passenger services, offering single-occupant flights across the city from summer 2017.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has announced that autonomous passenger drones will begin operating in the city from summer 2017, using the Chinese-built EHang 184. The service is intended to offer a new mode of on-demand urban transport, allowing riders to book a single-person drone for short journeys across the city.
The EHang 184 is an electric, vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) craft with eight propellers mounted on four arms. It is designed to carry a single passenger weighing up to 100kg, along with a small bag, for journeys of up to 31 miles or 30 minutes. The drone operates autonomously: passengers enter their destination on a touchscreen, and the craft handles take-off, navigation and landing without human intervention.
How the drone service will work
Passengers will be able to book a drone ride across Dubai without the need for a driver or pilot. The EHang 184 is programmed to fly predefined routes between set landing points, with the city’s transport authority overseeing operations and safety. The drone’s maximum operational speed is 100km/h, though it is expected to cruise at lower speeds in urban conditions. Each unit is monitored remotely, and emergency protocols are in place in case of technical issues.
Autonomous mobility ambitions in Dubai
Dubai’s government has made clear its ambition to lead in autonomous transport. The city has already trialled autonomous road vehicles and is involved in Hyperloop testing. By introducing passenger drones, Dubai is aiming to position itself as a showcase for future mobility technologies. The EHang 184 had previously been demonstrated at CES and tested in Nevada, but Dubai is the first city to approve it for live passenger service.
The move comes as global interest in autonomous vehicles accelerates. Other cities and carmakers are pursuing self-driving cars, as covered in Autonomous Cars Set to Reshape the Global Motor Industry. Dubai’s drone project, however, bypasses the road network entirely, offering a potential glimpse of how cities might rethink short-distance travel in the future.
