UAV from Jilin has great market potential

At the research and development center of Changchun Changguang Boxiang UAV Co in Changchun, Jilin province, researchers were recently busy upgrading their unmanned aerial vehicle with dual fixed wings, Changchun daily reported.

Independently developed and produced by the company, the UAV is the first of its kind in the world, with core performance advantages over conventional UAVs and promising market prospects, the report said.

The UAV consists of two fixed flying wings, which enable the craft to achieve vertical takeoff, transition into normal flight and then land in a vertical state.

Its debut at the China High-Tech Fair 2023 in November in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, attracted strong attention from foreign participants.

The research team has mastered the entire technological chain, including the drive system, sensor data fusion, flight control system and flight control algorithms.

It also tested the performance limits of the UAV, such as normal takeoff and landings in temperatures as low as — 40 C, at an altitude of 5,500 meters, and in winds of 50 to 61 kilometers per hour.

The UAV mainly uses lithium batteries for power.

The rotors provide upward lift during vertical takeoff and transition to horizontal thrust during level flight. Its energy efficiency is very high, providing it with excellent payload capacity and endurance.

"The UAV can be used for inspections, emergency rescue, aerial mapping, and military and police security in various industries such as power, petroleum, forestry, water conservancy, transportation and geographic information," said Liao Dongpo, manager of the company's marketing department. "We have already completed the development and production of three models, and they have entered the market for sales.

"It is expected to achieve revenue of 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) this year," he added.

Formerly a division of the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the company was founded in 2021.It has mainly engaged in the research and development, manufacturing, sales and related services of intelligent UAVs.

The company currently holds more than 80 patents.

"After moving to the Changchun Intelligent Optoelectronic Valley Industrial Park, we have completed new production capacity construction and achieved an annual production capacity of 3,000 UAVs," Liao said. "The direct output value is estimated to be between 300 to 500 million yuan, and the overall output value after integrating UAV-mounted equipment can reach 600 million to 1 billion yuan."

Compared to conventional UAVs on the market, the company's UAVs have significantly improved their core performance without having to change power sources.

Starting from an aerodynamic configuration, flight control algorithms, a distributed power drive and energy management, researchers have achieved a significant increase in the UAV's endurance and payload, ensuring it is lightweight, safe to operate and has easy-to-use features, strong wind resistance, high maneuverability and full-speed operational capabilities.

"Now we are focusing on continuously deepening our application research and development. The designs of two new UAV models are expected to be finalized and enter the integrated mounting and application development process this year," Liao said.

"Next, based on the domestic market, we plan to complete the domestic market layout and marketing network construction in three to four years," he said. "At the same time, we will actively explore overseas markets, establish international sales channels for products and develop overseas civilian markets."