Hydrogen-powered drone achieves test flight in China

The "Qingyao-10", a hydrogen-powered multi-rotor drone developed by the Chongqing Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology in Liangjiang New Area, has completed its inaugural liquid hydrogen-powered test flight in Baoji, Shaanxi province.

The drone demonstrated exceptional performance with a mission duration of over 3.5 hours, retaining more than 40 percent of its hydrogen fuel. This indicates a potential flight capability of approximately 7 hours and a range of over 300 kilometers, setting a new national benchmark for liquid hydrogen-powered multi-rotor drone flights.

The drone executed a series of standard maneuvers, including ascent, cruising, hovering, and landing, with stable performance from both its flight control system and fuel cell.

The "Qingyao-10" had its maiden flight earlier this year and participated in a practical inspection mission with the China Southern Power Grid in June.

Various tests have confirmed the drone's strong environmental adaptability, allowing it to operate in temperatures ranging from -30 C to 45 C and to fly at altitudes up to 4,000 meters.

Its performance parameters exceed those of traditional lithium battery-powered rotor drones, offering a flight time of 2.5 hours, three times that of conventional lithium battery rotor drones.

A representative from the research center said that this test flight validates the technical feasibility of liquid hydrogen power systems on high-mobility multi-rotor drone platforms, paving the way for their commercial application.