Israeli company HevenDrones has released its first hydrogen-powered drone, the H2D55, for commercial use. With 5 times more energy efficiency than traditional lithium battery drones, the H2D55 is capable of flying for 100 minutes with a payload of 7kg.
HevenDrones says the launch of the hydrogen-powered drone solves the flight and payload issues associated with lithium-powered drones, as well as the long-term environmental impact associated with lithium mining. Without the need for frequent battery replacements, hydrogen fuel cells will also lower the long-term cost of ownership for farmers adopting drone technology nationwide.
The H2D55 is the first in a planned lineup of three hydrogen-powered drones to be launched over the next nine months. Additional models will have increased payload capacity while maintaining longer flight times.
According to the Israeli company, the hydrogen-powered drone can be used to measure soil nutrient levels, survey crops, spray, fertilize and seed.
In addition to its light weight, the H2D55 features a control system that contains multiple gyroscopes and auxiliary algorithms to significantly expand the operating limits of stable flight.