A Chinese drone bird set a world record for the longest flight time - it spent more than 1.5 hours in the air

Chinese scientists from Beihang University (BUAA) were able to set a world record for the duration of a drone that flies like a bird.

Here's What We Know

The drone is an ornithopter weighing 1.6 kg. It is equipped with mechanical wings with a span of 2 meters and can reach speeds of up to 10 m/s (36 km/h) in flight.

To set the new record, university engineers went to a field on the outskirts of Beijing. The lithium-ion battery allowed the drone to stay in the air for 1 hour 30 minutes and almost 5 seconds. The previous record was less than 30 minutes.

Experts have tested the ornithopter several times. During the first tests, it flew for 53 minutes without landing. This was already enough to set a world record, but scientists have found a way to extend the flight time by more than one and a half times. To do this, they changed the wing dynamics and optimized the propulsion system.

Zhao Lunfei, the head of the research, said that the development of his team could help to create unmanned aerial vehicles for Mars exploration. In addition, such technology can be used to simulate innovative aircraft and scare birds in the vicinity of airports.

Source: Gizmodo