Ask HN: Do you think the Passenger drones have a very serious design flaw?

2 points by supervillain 7y ago ↗ HN

All the new passenger drones that are coming out have the propellers sticking out, which clearly is a design flaw, and have a serious safety hazard issues around people. Why don't they consider a passenger drone with the design similar like the Hover Camera Passport?

• Workhorse SureFly • Ehang 184 • Kittyhawk Flyer / Cora • Uber Elevate (CES Air Taxi) • Drone Hoverbikes

1 comment

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FabHK 7y ago ↗

I find the Ehang particularly egregious, yes - it seems designed to chop people’s kneecaps and/or behead them.

The Volocopter, however, has the rotors above the vehicle, like a helicopter, and I don’t see how that is any more problematic than a helicopter.

Having ducted rotors might be another solution (should give higher efficiency, too, particularly when combined with counter rotating props).