China becomes the first country to launch an unmanned flying taxi

China has become the first country to introduce an unmanned flying taxi. A tech firm called Ehang has launched them. This new unconventional creation has been dubbed EHang 216. It is primarily launched to circumvent traffic jams.

EHang 216 is powered by 16 electric rotors. They can propel the unit along a pre-determined route at over 80 mph (130 kmph). The weigh of the aircraft is about 600 pounds (270kg) itself. It can carry another 500 to 600 pounds.

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In the initial stage, just the tourists will be offered the taxis to make it easier for them to move around the southeastern tourist attractions.

EHang has declared a partnership with the Hezhou City in Guangxi Province to build a terminal for these aerial taxis. The terminal will have 4 pads, 2 will be for takeoff, 2 for landing.

By the end of this year, EHang will be able to offer the flying taxi service to the tourists. In three years, full-on taxi service will be made available

Chief Engineer at the Civil Aviation Administration of China Yin Shijun  said, “We encourage the development of the unmanned aircraft industry while ensuring safety. EHang 216 is a passenger-grade AAV quite different from other unmanned aircraft. We will provide our strong support and help accelerate the commercialization of this innovative air mobility solution.”