In China, a hydrogen-powered drone flew 100 km during testing, and this is far from the limit

Specialists from the Tianmushan Laboratory of the Hangzhou Innovation Institute at Beijing Aviation and Cosmonautics University launched Tianmushan No.1, the world’s first multi-rotor hydrogen-fueled drone with a parachute system, capable of staying in the air for up to 4 hours. During testing, the drone flew 100 km in 1.5 hours, according to the laboratory’s website.

Image source: Tianmushan Laboratory

Tianmushan Laboratory also said that the drone’s body is made of lightweight and durable carbon fiber, making its weight only 19 kg. The drone is capable of carrying up to 6 kg of cargo on board.

Tianmushan No.1 uses a hydrogen fuel cell system as its power source, which is five to six times more energy dense than conventional lithium batteries. The drone is also equipped with a parachute system that ensures the safety of the unit in the event of a sudden engine failure.

In addition, the drone is resistant to low temperatures, which allows it to be used in northern regions with harsh weather conditions for oil and gas exploration, checking power lines, emergency rescue operations, forest protection and water monitoring, Tianmushan Laboratory said.

In January 2024, Tianmu Mountain No.1 completed flight testing in extreme cold conditions in Genhe (Inner Mongolia), becoming the first multi-rotor drone to fly for more than 100 minutes at -40℃. And on August 22, 2024, the drone was tested in high altitude conditions at an altitude of more than 4,500 meters in Linzhi County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.