Looking forward to claim global leadership in self driving mobility, Dubai the Emirati city announced this week, launching passenger-carrying drone taxis in its airspace this year.
According to an official announcement issued this week by Mattar Al Tayer, the chief of Dubai’s roads & transportation agency, at the World Government Summit, test flights have already been conducted in Dubai. The statement confirmed that the taxi service is expected to launch in July.
The unpiloted drone taxis will be able to carry just one passenger and maximum weight 100 kilograms (220 pounds). It can fly for estimated half an hour and have a range of 50 kilometres (31 miles). However if it works, it will have bright long-term prospects not only for Dubai – which has among the world’s deadliest road infrastructure – but also for major cities around the globe. While others suffer traffic grid lock, a passenger in these taxi drones will be able to fly over the city at an average speed of 100 kilometres an hour (62 miles an hour).
That might seem like a bizarre notion to many, but the concept has already generated a massive buzz and really garnered the support of industry. In June, the U.S. state of Nevada launched the world’s first passenger-carrying drone trial. The drone is the same one being launched in Dubai – a Chinese-made Ehang 184. The craft has a compact pod which hovers using eight propellers — two attached to each of the drone’s four arms, and uses sensors for navigation. Meanwhile, critics have been quick to proclaim that that the widespread adoption of drone taxis is going to remain a controversial idea. Success in Dubai nevertheless could accelerate progress dramatically.
The company is positive about the success of the drone transport system. In a statement about the vehicle safety, the company stated the passenger drone has a “fail-safe system”. Furthermore, it said:
“If any components malfunction or disconnect, the aircraft will immediately land in the nearest possible area to ensure safety.”
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