Military and Industrial Drones are Starting to Look Alike: The Best of New Tech

 Sponsored by MMC.  While military and industrial drones are usually considered as two entirely separate categories, the two are starting to look more alike – each taking the best new technologies from the drone industry for a “best of breed” approach.  Tech reporter Cadie Thompson from CNBC says it this way “… more consumer-focused drone makers are adding more advanced capabilities, and military drones, which are typically single-purpose, are beginning to add more technologies so that they can be used for many different scenarios.”

Military drones – typically large aircraft carrying heavy payloads – are getting smaller and lighter, as military operations realize that drones can be used for a wide variety of applications in the field.  And industrial drones are developing the technologies required for military applications: long endurance, ability to withstand tough terrain, and customizable payloads.

Drone manufacturer MMC, a global leader in industrial and military grade drones and developers of the first hydrogen drone to market, have introduced the next generation of their hydrogen industrial drone, designed for the military: The HyDrone 1800.  Built of carbon fiber, the HyDrone 1800 is designed for use many different environments: which is why the drone has been able to excel as the go-to machine for bringing power to remote areas in Asia.  The drone is wind-resistant, rain-resistant, cold-resistant and still incredibly lightweight.  Most importantly, the HyDrone 1800’s hydrogen fuel cell technology provides a flight endurance of 4 – 4.5 hours or of a stunning 50+ hours when combined with MMC tethered drone technology.

The greater endurance of hydrogen technology means that the HyDrone series can be used for industrial applications as varied as power line stringing, agriculture, inspections, mining, or construction.  Packaged for military organizations – with customization and packaged solutions in target acquisition and reconnaissance technology (ISTAR) – the  drone is ideal for military applications like intelligence gathering, border patrol, aerial fire support, laser designation, or battle management services to tactical military operators.   The MMC HyDrone series also feature a “plug-and-play” payload system, so that one drone can perform a wide variety of applications.  The open development – an important feature for both military and industrial organizations – mean that new tools can be easily adapted to the system to meet specific requirements.

As military drones get smaller, lighter, and more nimble for a wider field of applications; industrial drones get stronger, more adaptable, and more resilient.  With technology breakthroughs like hydrogen fuel, the two categories are meeting in the middle.