Large cargo drones solve the last mile of fresh cold chain in remote areas

The world's first tonnage-class cargo drone AT200 was jointly developed by the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The transportation advantage is reflected in the convenience of take-off and landing. It can take off and land within 200 meters when the cargo is fully loaded, as long as the grassland, soil slope and even the hillside are slightly flat. As an important part of the intelligent logistics system, medium and large-scale cargo drones can open up the aviation logistics of domestic trunk lines and feeder lines, and provide efficient transportation means for fresh cold chain products and medical supplies.
 
Sliding along the scheduled runway at high speed, after taking a taxi for about 100 meters, it took off and rushed to the sky; after climbing to the predetermined height, it entered the cruise section and hovered for two weeks, then entered the landing route and landed smoothly. The whole flight lasted for 26 minutes. Stable, track tracking is accurate.
 
Not long ago, the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chengdu Langxing UAV Company as the overall unit, combined with the aviation industry 618, CLP 54, Aerospace 773, Xigong University and other large-scale cargo drone AT200 The first flight of Pucheng in Shaanxi was successful, which marked the birth of the world's first tonnage-class cargo drone.
 
On October 26, at the Fucheng Airport in Pucheng, Shaanxi, the staff was maintaining the large cargo drone AT200. On October 26, the payload was 1.5 tons, and the landing and landing could be completed within 200 meters with one button control. The large-scale cargo drone AT200 jointly developed by the Engineering Thermophysics Institute and other units successfully made the first flight at the Fucheng Airport in Pucheng, Shaanxi Province. It is currently the world's leading “big man” in the field of civil drones.
 
From design to final assembly, the aircraft was completed in Shuangliu District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, and it is a “Chinese wisdom”. Why is this world's first cargo drone so cattle? What special properties are there? In this regard, the reporter will find out for you.
 
　
Big head
 
Can achieve short distance takeoff and landing
 
If you say a small cargo drone, its appearance and use is no longer new. As the tonnage-class cargo drone, the AT200 is indeed the world's first, the most important feature is heavy weight and large size.
 
On October 26, the payload was 1.5 tons, and it was able to complete the take-off and landing within 200 meters with one button control. The large-scale cargo drone AT200 jointly developed by the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences succeeded in the Pucheng Nefu Airport in Shaanxi Province. The first flight is currently the world's leading "big man" in the field of civil drones.
 
According to Liu Fuhu, deputy chief designer of AT200 and Langxing UAV System Co., Ltd., from the perspective of weight, AT200 has a maximum takeoff weight of 3.4 tons and a load of 1.5 tons. From the perspective of aircraft volume, AT200 has a total length of 11.84 meters and a wingspan of 12.80 meters. With a height of 4.04 meters, it is the largest drone in the field of civil drones. At present, there has not been any public achievements in the development of such large-scale civilian cargo drones.
 
In addition to the advantages of the block, the advantages of the AT200 in transportation are mainly reflected in the convenience of take-off and landing. “This cargo drone has a very short take-off and landing capability, with a minimum takeoff distance of 77 meters and a minimum landing distance of 100 meters. It can also take off and land within 200 meters when the cargo is fully loaded. At the same time, this aircraft has very high requirements for take-off and landing conditions. Low. The AT200's tires are wide-section low-pressure tires that can take off and land on slightly flat grass, slopes, and even hillsides." In the interview, Liu Fuhu said.
 
In addition, the AT200 is equipped with an advanced flight control system and command system, completely rid of the dependence on the pilot, in the accusation center can achieve "one-button independent take-off and landing", but also control multiple drones at the same time. At the same time, the aircraft radio data link, ground station and security system are highly adaptable, with wireless high-definition map transmission function. The system has good electromagnetic compatibility and strong anti-interference ability. The technical achievements are the first in China and the technical indicators have reached the domestic leading level. It has unique performance advantages such as large cargo load, long battery life and amazing ability to take off and land.
 
It is understood that the AT200 uses the P750XL as a prototype for unmanned R&D and design, breaking through the overall design of the manned machine to change the drone, aircraft-engine-control system matching, aircraft aerodynamic parameter identification, full-machine quality characteristic test and system comprehensive test, etc. Key technology.
 
Wide application
 
Suitable for transportation in remote areas
 
Why develop large-scale cargo drones? The industry believes that as an important part of the intelligent logistics system, medium and large-scale cargo drones can open up the aviation logistics of domestic trunk lines and feeder lines, and provide efficient transportation means for fresh cold chain products and medical supplies. For example, the aeronautical trunk line for logistics and transportation can use large aircraft; the feeder line can choose AT200, connect regional hubs and fourth- and fifth-line cities; the end uses small drones to solve the final delivery.
 
On October 26, at the Fucheng Airport in Pucheng, Shaanxi, a large cargo drone AT200 was tested. On October 26, the payload was 1.5 tons, and it was able to complete the take-off and landing within 200 meters with one button control. The large-scale cargo drone AT200 jointly developed by the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences succeeded in the Pucheng Nefu Airport in Shaanxi Province. The first flight is currently the world's leading "big man" in the field of civil drones. Xinhua News Agency (for the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
 
It is understood that the AT200 has a maximum flight speed of 313 km/h, a battery life of up to 8 hours, a maximum range of 2,183 km, and a practical ceiling of 60,98 m. It can realize the take-off and landing of the plateau airport, and it can efficiently complete the freight branch transportation even in the undeveloped land transportation and the mountainous and high-altitude areas. If the aircraft is used in a sparsely populated area, point-to-point urban transport can be achieved through low-cost runway construction, eliminating the need for expensive road construction costs. The cargo hold has a volume of 10 cubic meters and has the capacity of large cargo tanks. The transportation economy is relatively high, and the cargo capacity of freight forwarders is second to none. At the same time, it has the ability to fly at night, which can meet the needs of night cargo flight.
 
According to the “Unmanned Aircraft Industry Management Forum 2017”, in the next 20 years, domestic logistics companies will demand more than 3,000 medium and large unmanned cargo aircraft. Aviation logistics will gradually transform into an integrated air transportation system with people and no one, showing a broad market prospect. According to reports, in addition to inland transportation, due to its powerful performance, the AT200 can also be widely used in island transportation. Only SF Group estimates that there will be about 200 large-scale cargo drones in the future.
 
Fast development
 
Use the advantages of aviation clusters
 
"AT200 is a large-scale civil cargo unmanned aircraft designed by Chengdu itself and possessing China's completely independent intellectual property rights. The flight control system and link system are completely localized." Liu Fuhu said that although the standard developed by the AT200 is high and difficult, it is in development time. On the AT200, it can be said that it has created a miracle in the history of the development of similar domestic drone models.
 
"The AT200 UAV project was officially launched in June 2016. It took only 16 months to officially demonstrate the flight success on October 30. It is the fastest in the development of the same-class UAV model in China." Liu Fuhu said that The result is a team of about 40 people after the "80s" and "90s". The entire team, in addition to the chief designer and a production support master, the core design team members are 31 years old. The smallest is only 23 years old.
 
Talking about the R&D and design of AT200, Liu Fuhu not only thanked his team, but also said that Langxing's success is inseparable from the good aviation development atmosphere of Chengdu Shuangliu. “Chengdu is the aviation hub of western China, and the airport is in a double stream. Meanwhile, The dual-stream support for aerospace development and high-end manufacturing has been relatively large, and the policy offers are very good."
 
Focusing on the development of the aviation industry, Chengdu Shuangliu is actively planning to build a 4.1 square kilometer Chengdu International Aviation Power Town. “Creating a characteristic industrial park is not only conducive to the integration of aviation industry resources, but also drives the development of the entire industrial chain and re-engineers the new engine of the economy.” The relevant person in charge of the aviation power town construction headquarters introduced the aerodynamic town that grew up in time. The strength matching and future planning space are in line with the development of the Shuangliu aviation industry.
 
Chengdu Aerospace Co., Ltd., Sichuan International Engine Bonded Maintenance Project, Sichuan Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Co., Ltd., which broke through foreign monopoly and successfully manufactured the core components of aviation engines, from the R&D to manufacturing and maintenance, Chengdu Shuangliu’s aviation industry cluster is now available. In the future, Shuangliu will rely on the policy advantages of Sichuan Free Trade Zone to develop civil aviation, hub services, aviation maintenance, R&D training, general aviation and other industries to create a veritable aviation city.