On December 1, 2021, Robodex obtained a special approval from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (hereinafter referred to as the Minister's special approval) for a composite container for high-pressure hydrogen to be mounted on a hydrogen fuel cell drone, and a flight permit from the Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. We conducted a test flight and announced that it was successful.
Hydrogen fuel cell drone test flight (left), open to the press (right)Since the hydrogen fuel cell drone is equipped with a high-pressure gas container for storing hydrogen, in order to fly above a certain altitude, we will take safety measures in case of a fall and specify the High Pressure Gas Safety Association. Preliminary evaluation of the project and special approval by the Minister are required.
In cooperation with Teijin Engineering, the company obtained a ministerial approval for a hydrogen fuel cell drone equipped with a composite container for high-pressure hydrogen after passing through the association's preliminary evaluation committee for specific projects. A flight permit was obtained from the Civil Aviation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and a test flight was conducted in Chigasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture on November 18. The test consisted of a 54-minute flight.
Large industrial drones equipped with lithium-ion batteries have a flight time of about 10 to 15 minutes, but hydrogen fuel cells can fly for 60 to 80 minutes. In a test conducted by the company, it has succeeded in flying for up to 80 minutes, and is aiming for a two-hour flight within this year.
The company became a partner of fuel cells for drones with Intelligent Energy Co., Ltd. in 2019, and this time, it adopted Teijin Engineering's high-pressure hydrogen composite container and took necessary safety measures to develop fuel cell drones. It has become possible to consistently support manufacturing and sales and license acquisition support.
There are battery type, gasoline hybrid type, hydrogen fuel cell type, etc., and the hydrogen fuel cell drone can reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to the other two types, and can fly for a long time and increase the load capacity. be.
In the future, the company will carry out carbon-free drone flight using clean hydrogen, and will provide drones that can fly for a long time with a view to infrastructure equipment related to hydrogen gas supply. In addition, the company plans to develop and provide domestically produced drones for the use of hydrogen fuel cells, and aim to fly for a long time in collaboration with companies conducting demonstration experiments with logistics drones.
Hydrogen fuel cell drone (left), high-pressure hydrogen compound container and Robodex representative Daisuke Kaio (right)Hydrogen fuel cell drone Main specifications
| Maximum takeoff weight | 15.5kg |
| Diagonal dimension | 1668mm |
| Maximum speed (no wind) | 65km / h |
| Maximum transmission distance | 3.5km |
| Fuel cell output | 2400W |
| Hydrogen capacity | 4.7L |
| Maximum hydrogen filling pressure | 19-28MPa |
| Maximum flight time | 60-80 minutes |