As the search for long lasting but sustainable fuel systems for unmanned aerial systems continue, a laboratory in China has debuted a hydrogen-powered drone that can fly for 100 kilometres before pausing for refuelling.
Named after the laboratory that developed it, the Tianmushan No. 1 recently underwent successful trials, making a smooth landing in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province, on Monday, in a development that is expected to be a game-changer in the quest for fuel and battery systems with long flight endurance, an ability to operate in ultra-low temperatures, and builds that are eco-friendly.
Capable of autonomous take-off and landing, the drone weighs around 19kg, can carry payloads up six kilogrammes in weight; flies for over four hours, aside from boasting of industry-leading performance and design.
“It has been developed to solve the industry pain points of insufficient endurance and low-temperature resistance of industrial drones,” said Tianmushan Laboratory in a press release.
The drone also comes fitted with an integrated parachute, which should come in handy should an accident occur during flight; the parachute was reportedly designed to automatically deploy once the drone started to behave in any manner that signals distress.
The laboratory went on to chronicle how the drone has been passing a series of endurance trials in various conditions since the beginning of the year.
“In January 2024, Tianmushan No. 1 completed flight tests in extremely cold conditions in Genhe, Inner Mongolia, becoming the first multi-rotor drone to achieve continuous flight for more than 100 minutes in a -40°C environment.
“In March 2024, the drone model carried out a demonstration operation of natural gas pipeline leakage inspection in northern Shaanxi, carrying multiple loads to fly in the undulating Loess Plateau for more than two hours and continuously inspecting for 50km, becoming a breakthrough application achievement in the industry.
“On August 22, 2024, the model completed continuous flight tests in the plateau of Nyingchi at an altitude of more than 4,500 meters above sea level, and the flight is in good condition.”
Four days later, the team then tested the drone for long flight endurance, and successfully completed the 100km flights around the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University.
The flight took close to 90 minutes.
The drone’s super power is its state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell system, which has an energy density five to six times higher than conventional lithium batteries, and is the key to the drone’s extended flight endurance.
“The drone uses a self-developed hydrogen fuel cell power system, an integrated lightweight carbon fibre fuselage, an integrated intelligent parachute system design, and customised four types of carbon fibre hydrogen storage bottles,” the developers said.
Meanwhile, the air-cooled fuel cell stack ensures optimal performance even under demanding conditions.
The drone is the latest step along China’s drive towards technological innovation in the field of low-altitude economy as well as a momentum for the combination of intelligence general aviation and low-altitude economy industries.