China tests unmanned transport aircraft

Tianma-1000 was developed by Xi’an ASN Technology company of North China Industry Group, and can serve logistics, emergency rescue and delivery. According to the developer, this is China’s first unmanned aircraft capable of adapting to complex terrain at high altitudes, taking off and landing with an ultra-short runway, and quickly switching between normal cargo transport mode and dropping goods from the air.

Equipped with an intelligent route planning and obstacle avoidance system, Tianma-1000 automatically identifies and flies over obstacles such as mountains and construction sites, ensuring safe operation even in unfamiliar spaces. The modular cargo bay allows the aircraft to be quickly reconfigured for a variety of missions, increasing adaptability.

Tianma-1000 has a flight range of 1,800 km, a maximum operating altitude of 8,000 m and only requires a take-off and landing distance of less than 200 m. This allows it to operate on unpaved and concrete surfaces such as grasslands or compacted dirt roads.

The aircraft is also equipped with an automatic loading and unloading system that can handle cargo weighing one ton within 5 minutes, completely automating from planning to execution. The optically guided landing system allows automatic landing with high precision in low visibility conditions, supporting operations in harsh environments.

Ma Chunhao, chief designer of the Tianma-1000, said that when deployed to remote areas, the aircraft can transport several days’ worth of food, medicine and equipment in a single trip at an affordable cost. He said the capabilities of drones will help solve long-standing transportation challenges in underdeveloped or disaster-ravaged areas.

Tianma-1000 is the second drone model developed by Xi’an ASN Technology to complete its first test flight this month. Previously, the LQ-150, a multi-purpose unmanned aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of about 200 kg, was also tested for the first time in Shaanxi.