Engineer Tsung Xu has designed and built a winged VTOL drone using 3D printing technology, achieving an impressive flight range of 130 miles (about 3 hours). Xu documented the entire project in a detailed article and a YouTube video, sharing insights into his innovative process.
Remarkably, Xu accomplished this feat without any prior experience in aerodynamic modeling, 3D printing, or CAD software, completing the project within just 90 days. He carefully logged each step of the build, emphasizing that every part of the drone was designed from scratch rather than adapted from existing models.
The drone was printed on a Bambu Lab A1 printer, a highly rated device that Xu used to manufacture the complex components needed for the craft. While critical elements like the radio and motors were purchased separately, Xu engineered and assembled the majority of the drone himself.
Xu credits the drone’s long flight endurance to a combination of a high energy density battery and the aerodynamic efficiency of his custom design. During tests, the drone reached a maximum flight time of approximately three hours, showcasing the potential for long-range VTOL applications.
Though detailed explanations of the build process are limited, Xu notes that overcoming unique challenges—such as learning aerodynamic principles and sourcing suitable electrical parts—was key to completing this pioneering project.
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