A microdrone designed by Chinese student Xu Yang has established a new Guinness World Record, reaching a speed of 340.78 km/h (211.75 mph). The record-breaking flight took place on March 23 in Huizhou, Guangdong province, with the sub-250-gram quadcopter surpassing the previous unofficial record of 219 km/h set in 2022. Xu, who studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shenzhen, exceeded his own expectations during the official attempt.
The record-setting Prowess drone features several custom components, including 3D-printed high-speed propellers designed by Xu himself. According to Guinness World Records, the 247-gram device incorporates a lightweight carbon fiber frame and an ultrathin 3D-printed shell measuring just 0.4mm in thickness. Xu developed his own propellers after finding no suitable commercial options for his high-speed application.
Swiss engineer Samuele Gobbi, who holds the Guinness World Record for fastest remote-controlled quadcopter in a larger weight class, praised Xu’s achievement. “Building a high-speed quadcopter is already very complex, and he has added a weight limit of less than 250 grams to it, which makes me admire his achievement,” Gobbi told Guinness World Records.
The development process included several challenges, including a prototype crash in November caused by motor overload. To maximize performance during the record attempt, Xu heated the drone’s battery to approximately 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The student emphasized the collaborative nature of drone speed development, stating he would share his experiences with future challengers.
Xu plans to continue refining his design, focusing on customizing the motor and propeller to achieve even greater speeds. “There is no end to the pursuit of extreme speed,” he noted, suggesting the current record may be temporary as development in microdrone technology advances.
Source: scmp.com