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Jetsons finally here: drone taxis to debut in Dubai (1 Viewer)

El Floppo

El Floppo

Footballguy
not touching one of these... but the future is finally here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/14/world/middleeast/dubai-passenger-drones.html?_r=0

Like a scene from “The Jetsons,” commuters in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, may soon climb aboard automated flying taxis, soaring over busy streets and past the desert city’s gleaming skyscrapers, all — quite literally — at the push of a button.

Passenger drones, capable of carrying a single rider and a small suitcase, will begin buzzing above the emirate as early as July, according to the director of the city’s transportation authority, part of an ambitious plan to increase driverless technology.

Already, the eight-rotor drone, made by the Chinese firm Ehang, has flown test runs past the Burj Al Arab, Dubai’s iconic, sail-shaped skyscraper.

The drone “is not just a model but it has really flown in Dubai skies,” Mattar Al Tayer, the director general of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, said on Monday, adding that the emirate would “spare no effort to launch” autonomous aerial vehicles by July.

The Ehang 184 can fly up to 31 miles, or about 30 minutes, on a single battery charge. It has a top speed of 100 miles per hour, but the authorities said it would typically operate at 62 m.p.h.

The craft can carry a 220-pound passenger, according to a promotional video produced by the Roads and Transport Authority, which depicts a man boarding the vessel, buckling into a race car-style harness and tapping his destination on a touch screen before taking off.

The video describes the Ehang 184 drone as “autopiloted, directed and monitored via a command center.”

According to the manufacturer, the drone is equipped with fail-safe technology and in the event of a malfunction “will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”

The drone is the latest in a series of measures to impose cutting-edge technology to help with the city’s congested roadways.

The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced last year that 25 percent of all journeys in the city would be conducted by driverless vehicles by 2030. The city operates the world’s longest driverless subway system and began a trial program last year using automated cars produced by France’s Easymile.

In October, the city signed a deal with the Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One to study the potential for a hyperloop — a vacuum-like tube through which vehicle pods hurtle at speeds faster than airliners — between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital.
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Interesting.  It's gonna put a lot of TCNs out of a job if it catches on.  But I guess there will always be room for 'traditionalists'.

 
johnnyrock62000 said:
Love the "fail-safe" technology. 

Why didn't we think of this?! We should implement it for planes and helicopters. Genius. 
Click to expand...
need to also make the entire drone out of black-box material... for redundancy.

 
El Floppo said:
it's not- the drones will land safely nearby if there are any mechanical problems.

you should really read the handful of words that constitute the article above.
Click to expand...
I'm more concerned with being in the air and hitting a bird or other flying taxi or some idiot flying his own drone.

 
johnnyrock62000 said:
Love the "fail-safe" technology. 

Why didn't we think of this?! We should implement it for planes and helicopters. Genius. 
Click to expand...
Thought the same thing. If there's an issue it will be plummeting into a tree or a building, not seamlessly gliding to the next safe spot to land.

 
bagger said:
AAABatteries said:
I'm more concerned with being in the air and hitting a bird or other flying taxi or some idiot flying his own drone.
Click to expand...
FAIL SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!

i mean seriously people.
Click to expand...
helloexactly.

it states in the article very clearly- 

According to the (chinese) manufacturer, the drone is equipped with fail-safe technology and in the event of a malfunction “will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”

 
El Floppo said:
helloexactly.

it states in the article very clearly- 

According to the (chinese) manufacturer, the drone is equipped with fail-safe technology and in the event of a malfunction “will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”
Click to expand...
To be fair that does not rule out plummeting directly down to earth in a fire ball (immediately land) directly below you (nearest possible area) so you don't kill anyone else other than you (ensure safety).

 
bagger said:
El Floppo said:
helloexactly.

it states in the article very clearly- 

According to the (chinese) manufacturer, the drone is equipped with fail-safe technology and in the event of a malfunction “will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”
Click to expand...
To be fair that does not rule out plummeting directly down to earth in a fire ball (immediately land) directly below you (nearest possible area) so you don't kill anyone else other than you (ensure safety).
Click to expand...
it states in the article very clearly- 

According to the (chinese) manufacturer, the drone is equipped with fail-safe technology and in the event of a malfunction “will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”

 
brb, moving to Dubai to partake in the Jetson's experience.  Hopefully they made some advancements in the sex robots though.   Bumping uglies with Rosie would be no bueno.

 
RokNRole said:
They can always pay for a second drone and sit in a hammock suspended between them
Click to expand...
It's not question of how he grips it. It's a simple question of weight ratios. A four ounce bird can NOT carry a 2 pound coconut.

 
El Floppo said:
helloexactly.

it states in the article very clearly- 

According to the (chinese) manufacturer, the drone is equipped with fail-safe technology and in the event of a malfunction “will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”
Click to expand...
Chinese manufacturing - a bastion of safety since, well never

 
His will be fun the first time someone dies from say a heart attack in mid-air.  Nothing like getting a fun surprise like that when grandma is coming over to visit.

-QG

 
200-300k Price Tag

Worth it.

:lmao:  how the article compares to the price of a new helicopter:

EHang 184 Pricing


Accorcing to reports, the 184 will cost between $200.000 – $300.000. Now a small but proven helicopter such as the Robinson R44 Raven I costs $355.000 brand new. It has a 350 mile range and can transport 3 passengers at 4000 feet. Ok, it is more expensive to operate probably, but the 184 must be a hell of a lot cheaper to manufacture too. So the pricing seems to be a little extreme.
Click to expand...

 
El Floppo said:
helloexactly.

it states in the article very clearly- 

According to the (chinese) manufacturer, the drone is equipped with fail-safe technology and in the event of a malfunction “will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”
Click to expand...
Good luck with that. 

 
El Floppo said:
helloexactly.

it states in the article very clearly- 

According to the (chinese) manufacturer, the drone is equipped with fail-safe technology and in the event of a malfunction “will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”
Click to expand...
Oh, immediately- that changes everything

 
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