EHang EH216-F (production model)

EH216-F (production model)
EHang
Guangzhou, China
www.ehang.com

EHang was founded in December 2014 by Huazhi Hu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Derrick Yifang Xiong, Director and Chief Marketing Officer. EHang is an autonomous aerial vehicle technology platform company based in China and is pioneering the future of all-electric aerial transportation through multiple proprietary products and services. The company designs and manufactures electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) passenger and cargo aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). The mission of EHang is to provide safe, autonomous and eco-friendly air mobility for everyone.

EH216-F firefighting eVTOL multicopter aircraft
The EH216-F is a purpose built firefighting passenger eVTOL multicopter aircraft. The overall aircraft structure is fully sealed, is waterproofed, moisture-proof, dust proof, anti-static proof and anti-electromagnetic interference proofed. The fuselage is also optimized for strength and stiffness of the overall structure and can operate in high temperatures, smokey conditions, wind and rain. The aircraft's system is managed by centralized and intelligent management.  

The aircraft has 16 propellers, 16 electric motors and is powered by battery packs. The maximum cruise speed if the aircraft is 130 km/h (81 mph), has a flight time of 21 minutes and has a maximum payload weight of 220 kg (485 lb). The time to charge batteries for the aircraft is less than 120 minutes. The multicopter has helicopter-type windows allowing forward, left, right and top views for the pilot, when a pilot is onboard. The fuselage is made from epoxy carbon fiber composite and aluminum alloy. The length of aircraft is 7.33 m (24 ft, 1/2 in), has a width of 5.61 m (18 ft, 2/3 in) and has a height of 2.2 m (7 ft, 5/8 in). The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear.

The multicopter has two methods to put out fires. The aircraft also comes standard with a visible light 10X zoom camera to help firefighters to quickly identify the location of the fire and quickly take action. The aircraft has a high pressure nozzel that can be pointed directly at fire and shoots firefighting foam and microbial water-based liquid. The spray lasts for a total of 3.5 minutes on fires. The multicopter holds 100 liters (26.4 gallons) of firefighting liquid and the extinguishing method can be a slow release or total flooding extinguishing. The aircraft has a laser aiming device for accurate aiming of the fighting foam or other material to the fire.

In addition, the aircraft has six fire projectiles attached to the top of the roof. These projectiles are filled with ABC superfine dry powder. The casing of the projectiles is made from an aluminum alloy.  The each projectile includes a window breaker to open a channel to get the powder directly on the fire.

The EHang 216F can be deployed in multiple fire stations in cities to be responsible all high-rise building fires within a radius of 3 km (1.86 m) around the aircraft's fire station. When the fire alarm is received, the multicopter takes off directly from the fire station and can quickly fly to any point within the aircraft's range and will perform the tasks needed to put out the fire. The fire station can purchase a fleet of multicopters to help ensure fires out put out as quickly and efficiently as possible.

All EHang multicopters feature full redundancy design which means all components have backup systems. Even in the case of special situations, such as a power loss and GPS signal loss, the multicopter still keeps a stable attitude and safe flying and performs accurate fire fighting in a normal manner.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: eVTOL firefighting multicopter drone
• Piloting: Pilot or remote control
• Capacity: 100 L (26.4 gallons) firefighting material (foam or microbial water-based liquid). 6 fire projectiles filled with ABC superfine dry powder. The casing of the projectile is made from an aluminum alloy.
• Maximum cruise speed: 130 km/h (81 mph)
• Flight time: 21 minutes
• Maximum payload weight: 220 kg (485 lb)
• Propellers: 16 propellers
• Electric motors: 16 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs
• Time to charge batteries: <120 minutes
• Fuselage: Epoxy carbon fiber composite and aluminum alloy
• Length: 7.33 m (24 ft, 1/2 in)
• Width: 5.61 m (18 ft, 2/3 in)
• Height: 2.2 m (7 ft, 5/8 in)
• Windows: Helicopter type windows allowing forward, left, right and visibility for excellent views
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) means having multiple propellers (or electric ducted fans) and multiple electric motors on an aircraft so if one or more propellers (or electric ducted fans) or some electric motors fail, the other working propellers (or electric ducted fans) and electric motors can safely land the aircraft. DEP provides safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy for its passengers or cargo. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure. There is also a whole aircraft emergency ballistic parachute in case of an unexpected inflight emergency.

Related Aircraft:

• EHang 116 (prototype)
• EHang 184 (defunct)
• EHang EH216-L (production model)
• EHang EH216-S (production model)
• EHang VT-25 (concept design)
• EHang VT-30 (prototype)

Company Insights:

• Pitchbook
• Crunchbase
• MarketWatch
• Tracxn
• Wikipedia

Resources:

• EHang website
• EHang Urban Air Mobility Information
• EHang Facebook
• EHang Twitter
• EHang Instagram
• EHang YouTube
• Article: EHang flies out rapid responder, firefighting drone, New Atlas, Aug. 3, 2020
• Article: EHang Says Yunfu eVTOL Aircraft Manufacturing Plant Now Operational, FutureFlight, July 27, 2021
• Article: EHang AAVs Completes High-Rise Fire Rescue Drill in Laixi City, Qingdao, China, EHang, Aug. 2, 2021
• Video: EHang AAVs Completes High-Rise Fire Rescue Drill in Laixi City, Qingdao, China, EHang, Aug. 2, 2021
• Article: China's EHang secures largest pre-order of eVTOL aircraft, CH Aviation, Mar. 24, 2022