The first trial of a pilotless ‘drone taxi’ project capable of transporting passengers took place yesterday (08) at the Colombo Port City premises, marking a first for South Asia.
This technology, introduced globally by the Chinese company EHang, is known as eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing). It utilizes aircraft technology that operates on electric power and is capable of taking off and landing vertically.
The craft is powered entirely by batteries, with its operations managed through artificial intelligence and computerized technology. It is noted that the vehicle possesses the capability to navigate autonomously from one location to another in the air, utilizing digital calculations and artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, it was mentioned that the craft is equipped with 16 motors; it is designed in such a way that if one motor malfunctions, the remaining motors can ensure the flight continues safely.
It was also stated that EHang a company established in 2014 has conducted approximately 100,000 test flights under various environmental conditions to verify the safety of this technology. Currently, this craft can carry two passengers at a time and is capable of traveling a distance of 25 to 30 kilometers per trip.