The ultimate yacht accessory

FORGET helicopters, on board cars, motor bikes and speed boats, the ultimate gift for the owner of a superyacht has just been unveiled at the Consumer electronics Show in Las Vegas, the world’s first passenger-carrying drone which can deliver a passenger from ship to shore without a pilot.

The Chinese developed Ehang 184 drone is 1.4 metres high, and uses eight propellers on four arms that can be folded into the vehicle’s body for storage and although there is no pilot, instructions can be entered into a touch screen on board so that the drone’s computer can calculate the quickest and safest route to the destination.

Supposedly fail safe, it does have some limitations as the 100 kilometre per hour drone which can fly at over 3,000 metres if required only has a 23 minute window before a fully charged battery will run down.

Whilst you won’t be able to fly across the Atlantic, it could well be an ideal addition to your superyacht to allow you a safe and comfortable journey from ship to shore and back, provided that you don’t mind paying the expected price of between £140,000 (€180,000) and £200,000 (€257,000) and can find somewhere which doesn’t have laws prohibiting drones.

On the plus side, the battery recharges within four hours and you won’t need a chauffeur.