Broadcast live on December 24, this demonstration of the eHang 184 is, interestingly, an English-language presentation, with a lot of English names floating about. Someone named Mike shows off the Ehang 184 in this Christmas-related special. His friend Miranda snugs herself into the compact passenger compartment, tries on the safety harnesses, and deplanes before committing aviation. The video is a sales pitch for the drone manufacturer – actually more of a long wind-up before a pitch into the air. Mike takes us through a tutorial on the craft, which seats one passenger and has eight propellers that are mounted on four arms (one-eight-four, or 184). The rather ungainly entrance and exit of the petite young woman suggests possible improvements eHang’s designers might make in the otherwise swoopy-looking gull-wing doors. They might also consider how to protect the unwary from the knee- and ankle-high 1.6 meter (5.25 feet) propellers. One hopes the designers have incorporated a safety propeller stop system such as …
