Chinese Hydrogen-Powered Drone Sets Record with 30-Hour Flight
Key Ideas
- AVIC's hydrogen-powered drone, developed in collaboration with Tsinghua University, achieved a 30-hour non-stop flight, setting a new national record.
- The drone showcased integrated design breakthroughs in flight, control, and propulsion, leveraging hydrogen cell output characteristics.
- During the successful demonstration, the drone used a unique take-off system mounted on an unmanned car, showcasing potential in low-altitude economy and green aviation applications.
An independently-developed Chinese hydrogen-powered drone, created through a partnership between AVIC Chengdu Aircraft Industrial (Group) Co., Ltd. and Tsinghua University, recently completed a groundbreaking 30-hour flight, setting a new record for hydrogen aircraft in China. This 50 kg-class drone made strides in integrated design, focusing on flight, control, and propulsion using hydrogen cells. The unprecedented flight took place in Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, showcasing the drone's capabilities. Utilizing a system where the drone was mounted on a moving unmanned car for take-off, the aircraft successfully demonstrated take-off from a non-standard runway. Throughout the flight, the hydrogen drone conducted remote monitoring on the ground, highlighting its potential for applications in the low-altitude economy and green aviation. The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) praised the success of this hydrogen drone, emphasizing its importance in advancing research and innovation in the aviation sector.