GAUNGZHOU, China - EHang Holdings Limited, a leading autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) technology platform company, announced the launch of the world’s first large-payload intelligent aerial firefighting solution. Based on its flagship product, this new firefighting version of EHang 216, “EHang 216F” is specially designed for high-rise firefighting. With hundreds of thousands of high-rise buildings in China, the company believes the EHang 216F can become essential equipment for thousands of fire stations across China and eventually those around the world.
At a recent global launch ceremony in Yunfu, China, EHang revealed the 216F and demonstrated its capability to extinguish a high-rise fire. With a maximum flight altitude of 600 meters, the 216F can carry up to 150 liters of firefighting foams and 6 fire extinguisher bombs in a single trip. The 216F uses a visible light zoom camera to quickly identify the location of fire; it then hovers precisely in position and uses a laser aiming device to fire (in succession) a window breaker, the fire extinguishing “bombs” and then a full-range spray of firefighting foam. Multiple 216Fs can be deployed to rapidly extinguish the fire.
Accelerating urbanization and building density are increasing fire hazards and creating more difficulties in firefighting. According to a survey by China Fire Magazine, 233,000 fires were reported nationwide in 2019, among which 6,974 cases happened in high-rise buildings with a year-on-year growth of 10.6%.
