TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — HY Tech showcased its new electric long-range drone, Sky VTOL 2, on Friday at the Asia UAV AI Innovation Application R&D Center, featuring a maximum flight range of 200 kilometers and a payload capacity of 5 kilograms.
The drone, powered by a lithium battery, can remain airborne for up to three hours. It also includes an airdrop function, making it suitable for applications such as disaster relief, logistics, medical transport, and wartime logistical support, per CNA.
The company held a communication technology forum and product launch at the facility on Friday. Attendees included National Hu-wei University of Science and Technology Principal Chang Shinn-liang (張信良), Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁), and representatives from the National Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology.
HY Tech CEO Chou Yu-tuan (周玉端) said the drone, a collaboration with Chunghwa Telecom, is equipped with satellite communication capabilities. He noted the unmanned vehicle can transmit collected data to satellites, which then relay it to ground-based receiving stations, reducing the likelihood of signal interference.
HY Tech is a key player in Taiwan's drone industry, known for its strong R&D and mass production capabilities. The company specializes in developing military drones and serves as a key supplier of essential components for them.
It also provides commercial drones for applications such as aerial photography, land surveying, infrastructure inspection, and environmental monitoring.
Chou said the company also developed two large drones weighing over 25 kg. One is a multi-rotor drone capable of carrying a 20 kg payload with a maximum flight range of 20 km. The other is a vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL, drone, expected for logistics delivery with a 5 kg payload and a maximum range of 150 km.
Since 2021, the company has collaborated with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to promote a drone delivery program for remote areas, with the first test flight conducted on Xiaoliuqiu Island. As part of the program, the company also completed its first cross-sea drone operation, flying a drone over 6 km from Penghu's Magong City to Siyu Township.
Chou added that enhancing communication equipment is key for enabling drones to fly longer distances across seas. He cited the example of a flight from Taitung to Green Island, noting that satellite communication provides greater stability than 5G for such operations.
