DJI launches EV50 cargo drone, sets new altitude record on Mount Everest
DJI has unveiled its new EV50 cargo drone, designed for long-range regional transport. During an expedition, the aircraft reached a record altitude surpassing Mount Everest's summit.
TechNode
DJI on Thursday unveiled the DJI EV50, its first vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing cargo drone designed for long-range regional transport.
The company stated the aircraft reached an operating altitude of 8,861 meters during a scientific expedition on Mount Everest earlier this year. This altitude exceeded the mountain's summit by 12 meters and set a new record for high-altitude operations by a VTOL drone.
During the 12-day expedition, the EV50 completed 32 flights, including 12 missions carrying atmospheric monitoring equipment. Taking off from Everest Base Camp at 5,200 meters, the drone climbed up to 3,730 meters in a single flight to collect atmospheric data at designated observation altitudes.
According to Ye Chunxiang, a professor at Peking University's College of Environmental Science and Engineering and the expedition's lead researcher, continuous atmospheric observation above 8,000 meters has long faced technical challenges. These challenges stem from the limitations of manned expeditions, weather balloons, fuel-powered aircraft, and multirotor drones.
Ye Chunxiang indicated that the EV50's all-electric propulsion system enabled researchers to observe glacier winds and collect atmospheric data. This data could support studies on climate change and the atmospheric environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
The EV50 features a hybrid propulsion system with eight vertical-lift rotors and three forward propulsion motors, allowing for vertical takeoff and landing without a runway. The drone has a maximum payload of 50 kilograms, a range of 150 kilometers without payload, and a top speed of 160 km/h. It also includes an emergency parachute and dual thermal management systems.
DJI expects the aircraft to be deployed in applications such as emergency response, logistics in remote areas, and scientific research. This launch expands DJI's portfolio of industrial drones for challenging environments.