Gitex Global: Flying cars can be a commercial reality

Gitex Global: Flying cars can be a commercial reality

It was a flying start at the Gitex Global 2022 in more ways than one. But of the 5,000 companies with a presence at Dubai World Trade Centre, one company did indeed make that ‘flying start’ in the literal sense. Ehang from China is an autonomous aerial vehicle manufacturer and it showcased a passenger ‘drone’ – the EH216 – at the e& (formerly Etisalat Group) pavilion. “It’s the first fully autonomous and electric passenger drone on the planet,” said Andreas Perotti, CMO Europe, Ehang. “It can transport up to two people over a distance of roughly 35 kilometres at top speed of 130 kmph,” he added. “It’s AI powered. It’s fully autonomous. You don’t have a pilot. It’s just two passengers.” The vehicle has a maximum payload of around 220 kilograms. It’s 1.85m high and 5.63m wide. It has so far completed over 30,000 ‘safe trial flights’. The drone, which can take off and land vertically, is powered by 16 high-performance electric motors mounted on eight double rotor arms. It uses 4G/5G high-speed wireless transmission channel to communicate smoothly with the command-and-control centre, thus enabling remote control of the aircraft and real-time transmission of flight data. “The drone was showcased