EHang completes geofencing tests
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Chinese drone and eVTOL manufacturer EHang has completed tests of its geofencing technology – receiving a safety certification from the China’s Academy Aviation Science & Technology (CAST).
EHang’s ‘UAS fence’ geofencing technology restricts unmanned aircraft from entering specific areas of the airspace. During the latest tests the company -flew its passenger carrying EHang 216 eVTOL and its Falcon commercial drone to see how the aircraft interacted with the fence.
Both aircraft were able to detect the virtual perimeter of the UAS fence before entering the restricted airspace. They then avoided it by hovering, landing or returning to safety. The tests also proved that both aircraft could not be started within the fenced areas.
Ehang has already made headlines this month with its plans to launch its first urban air mobility service tests across Guangzhou and its partnership with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). It shows no signs of slowing down in its mission to be first air-taxi service to market.
Zhang Zhengjuan, a senior engineer at the Civil UAS Inspection Center of CAST said: “Passing these tests further establishes EHang as the leader in the UAS fence technology and marks a breakthrough in urban air-mobility space.
“Significantly, EHang’s command-and-control system is more intelligent in managing the AAVs’ flight routes, and with real-time remote communication via 4G and 5G telecom networks, their operation is simpler and safer than conventional drones that are manually controlled by radio frequency within limited distances.”
EHang in 2019
Similar to Uber, EHang is not just launching a service or building aircraft, it is looking to create an end-to-end solution for urban transport and cargo delivery.
Earlier this month, EHang announced that it had selected Guangzhou as its first urban air mobility testing facility, where it will shuttle passengers and cargo across the city. It has already taken steps towards drone delivery services, having partnered with DHL-Sinotrans in April to deliver packages across the Liaobu, Dongguan and Guangdong Provinces.
Just to repeat the news, it also announced just last week that it has selected Guangzhou as the pilot city for its urban air mobility testing. This will see EHang work together with the city to establish a low-altitude transport network for both passengers and cargo across the city. However, no date has yet been set for when the tests will begin.
