At the H2 Mobility Energy Environment Technology ( MEET ) conference in Seoul, South Korean company Hogreen Air has revealed its hydrogen-powered drone with exceptional capabilities. This unmanned aerial vehicle ( UAV ) can be used at distances of up to 9,300 kilometers and perform operations for more than 14 consecutive hours, using advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Hogreen Air’s hydrogen-powered drone
The drone is designed for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, using hydrogen in both liquid and gaseous forms, which gives it great autonomy. It recently demonstrated its capabilities by being controlled remotely from South Korea while performing a flight more than 9,000 kilometers away in Germany. It also completed an autonomous flight from the United States, controlled from more than 5,600 miles away.
This liquid hydrogen technology has a higher density than gaseous hydrogen , allowing for longer flight times compared to drones that use lithium batteries. While the latter typically have an autonomy of 10 to 30 minutes, the Hogreen Air drone can stay in the air for more than 14 hours, making it ideal for long-duration critical missions.
In addition, the drone’s communication system includes radio frequency and LTE/5G technology, which ensures that it can be operated from anywhere in the world, as long as it is connected to a mobile network. The connectivity is very efficient, according to tests carried out.
Innovation and use of green fuel
Hogreen Air is seeking to improve the efficiency of commercial drones and promote the use of clean energy. Its polymer electrolyte membrane ( PEM ) fuel cell platform converts hydrogen into energy silently and free of polluting emissions. The only byproduct of this system is water vapor.
With numerous patents under its belt, the company continues to innovate in the integration of drones with sustainable energy technologies, seeking to improve the safety, efficiency and environmental impact of air operations.
A 3D promotional video of the hydrogen drone. Source: Hogreen Air
The use of hydrogen as a power source for drones could radically transform the UAV industry. Hogreen Air is at the forefront of this transition, collaborating with other specialist companies to develop new generations of drones with greater autonomy and operational capacity. The alliance with Intelligent Energy is also expected to boost the development of high-power fuel cells, which could mark the beginning of a new era in unmanned aviation.
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Source and photo: Interesting Engineering / Hogreen Air