EHang 216F is an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) designed specifically for high-rise firefighting. It has a maximum flight altitude of 600 meters, and it can carry up to 150 liters of firefighting foams and six fire extinguisher bombs in a single trip. The 216F works by using 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 is ejected, the company explains. What’s more, multiple 216Fs can be remotely dispatched for first response even before the firefighters arrive, significantly reducing response time and the number of casualties. 

EHang’s latest innovation is specially designed for high-rise firefighting – perfect for the sprawling (and largely high-rise landscaped) urban cities of China, and an ideal solution to the growing number of high-rise fires around the world. EHang explains that the height of fire rescue ladders and the reach of fire nozzles are usually less than 50 meters, and their operations are often limited to one side of a building. “Furthermore, because high-rise buildings are often located in urban centers, traffic can significantly lengthen response times,” the company said in a statement. “The intelligent aerial firefighting solution by EHang provides a better alternative for dealing with high-rise building fires. With the fully equipped EHang 216F AAVs and the command-and-control system, this solution offers comprehensive services including investigation, firefighting, rescue and emergency management.”

EHang asserts that its 216Fs are expected to be deployed in urban fire stations to assist in firefighting within a five kilometer radius. 

“We are pleased to introduce the EHang 216F AAV aerial firefighting solution, which solves difficult challenges in high-rise firefighting. The high-rise fire use case highlights the practical application of our passenger-grade AAV platform to different smart city management needs,” EHang’s Founder, Chairman and CEO, Huazhi Hu said. “The potential of our intelligent AAV technology platform is boundless. We will explore and develop more aerial solutions and use cases to empower smart cities.”