Passenger drones to take to the skies in Dubai

Passenger drones could be seen in the skies above Dubai as early as July 2017, according to the city’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA). Speaking at the World Government Summit, Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of RTA, said the pilotless drones, designed to carry a weight of 100kg and a small suitcase, will have a range of 50 km and are on track to take off beginning in July 2017. The drones are part of Dubai’s strategy on autonomous transportation, under which 25 per cent of all journeys within the Emirat
February 15, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
Passenger drones could be seen in the skies above Dubai as early as July 2017, according to the city’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA).

Speaking at the World Government Summit, Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of RTA, said the pilotless drones, designed to carry a weight of 100kg and a small suitcase, will have a range of 50 km and are on track to take off beginning in July 2017.

The drones are part of Dubai’s strategy on autonomous transportation, under which 25 per cent of all journeys within the Emirate are expected to be smart and driverless by 2030.

According to Associated Press, the Chinese-made EHang 184 has a top speed of 160 kph (100 mph), but authorities say it will be operated typically at 100 kph (62 mph). It carries only one passenger, who selects a destination on a touch-screen pad in front of the seat and the drone flies there automatically.

“This is not only a model,” al-Tayer said. “We have actually experimented with this vehicle flying in Dubai's skies.”

Related Content

  • #ITSDubai2024: Mobility driven by ITS
    August 27, 2024
    Ertico-organised event in United Arab Emirates runs from 16-20 September 2024
    Read More
  • Green light for new approach to bus services in Liverpool
    December 4, 2015
    UK public transport operator Merseytravel is to enter into a formal ‘bus alliance’ initially with operators Arriva and Stagecoach, who together operate 90 per cent of commercial bus services in the Liverpool City region, focused on increasing the number of fare paying passengers, improving customer satisfaction and driving up investment for the benefit of all who use bus services. The ambitious growth target of a 10 per cent increase in passenger journeys, the equivalent of over nine million more journey
    Read More
  • European tunnel safety steps up a gear
    September 19, 2017
    David Crawford reviews the latest safety systems installed in European tunnels. Blueprints for the safer road tunnels of the future are emerging fast as European operators invest in technologies to enhance travellers’ prospects of surviving an accident. Central to modern emergency planning is the principle that, following an incident, drivers should be enabled to rescue themselves and their passengers with the aid of prompt and correct identification and communication of the hazard. Roles for cooperativ
    Read More
  • World Bank to support integrated transport project in China
    March 2, 2016
    The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a loan of US$120 million to China to support the integrated transport development in the Wuhan Metropolitan Region. Located in Hubei Province in central China, the Wuhan Metropolitan Region is a city cluster formed by eight smaller cities within a 100-kilometre radius of the core city Wuhan and has been selected as a pilot in China’s search for a new urban development model attuned to the national goals of promoting equity and environmental sustainab
    Read More

Highlighted Content