For a long time, drones using lithium batteries have dominated the market, but their limited operating time raises doubts about the ability to carry out complex and prolonged missions. Hydrogen fuel cells represent a promising solution, significantly increasing flight duration.
The development of the hydrogen drone is led by Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, and Intelligent Energy, known for its 25 years of work with hydrogen technologies.
As part of joint testing, the partners are using fuel cells on unmanned aerial vehicles weighing up to 25 kg, which can effectively perform tasks related to delivery, infrastructure inspection, and even military operations.
In the new version of the SKIRON-XLE, engineers have installed two hydrogen tanks under the wings. Although the drone uses electric propulsion, the energy for the motors comes not from batteries, but from hydrogen cells.
The results are impressive: flight time has increased from 3.5 to 7 hours, which is a significant advantage for inspecting pipelines, power lines, and wind farms. This reduces the number of stops and lowers the risk of missing malfunctions.
However, it will not be possible to completely abandon batteries in the near future. A buffer battery remains necessary: it provides power during takeoff and landing and can be recharged during flight.
Although fuel cells cannot deliver energy quickly, they provide stable operation over long distances.
Aurora believes that the widespread adoption of hydrogen drones will only be possible when hydrogen is integrated into conventional logistics chains, including transport and heavy machinery. This will create the necessary infrastructure for refueling and reduce operating costs.
Nevertheless, the main obstacle to this is the lack of clear regulation. There are no unified standards in the industry, and operators need to figure out safe handling, transportation, and storage of hydrogen.
