Fuel Cell Powered Drone

The short answer is yes.

Fuel cell powered drone.

A longer flight duration will open up new ua v applications as well as improving current capabilities. The mfd 3000 hydrogen fuel cell edition uses a 2 4kw hydrogen fuel cell created by intelligent energy presenting another case of a drone being configured so that it can be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. This project will develop a hydrogen fuel cell powered ua v with an hour s flight time carrying a 5kg payload and remaining below 20kg mtom take off weight. Bshark partnered with micromulticopter mmc a manufacturer of the first hydrogen powered drone hydrone 1550 to release the narwhal 2 its new hydrogen powered drone equipped with air cooled fuel.

For drone operators using hydrogen fuel is less about the environmental benefits and more about lowering operational expenses. When we discuss the technology s potential with package delivery companies and drone manufacturers they raise three concerns. Ballard power systems is a leading global provider of zero emission hydrogen fuel cell solutions for uavs bus truck rail and marine applications. As a result of highly efficient cold fuel combustion this electrochemical device generates electric power.

In conventional drones operators must swap out. A hydrogen air fuel cell with a proton exchange membrane pemfc is one of the most efficient perspective technologies of fuel cells. Intelligent energy s air cooled fuel cell systems run on hydrogen and ambient air to produce clean dc power in a simple cost effective robust and lightweight package. 3 8 4 bshark the hydrogen powered drone research company based in the british virgin islands has announced a hydrogen fuel cell drone with an entry price of usd 6 800.

This drone could fly forever with wireless power. Fuel cell powered drones are relatively new to the delivery industry. Fuel cell uav technology. See our video below to watch the 650w fuel cell power module in action.

The number one complaint of drone users especially commercial drone users is battery life. Proven and reliable clean fuel solution. Is the technology mature. A proton conducting polymer membrane separates two electrodes an anode and a cathode.

Fuel cell power technology is well known and proven. Supported by innovate uk. Ballard s 40 years of fuel cell development and more than a decade of uav flight experience has enabled us to deliver fcair the complete hydrogen solution for commercial drone operations. The majority of commercial drones on today s market are powered by lipo batteries but hydrogen fuel cells are making advances as an alternative fuel source for drones.

They have a higher energy to mass ratio than battery based systems and can be refuelled in a few minutes. Tiny hydrogen fuel cells could be a game changer.