Flowcopter presented its Heavylift Utility UAV at the Offshore Drone Challenge.
Last week, Flowcopter participated in the inaugural Offshore Drone Challenge at the National Experimental Test Center in Cochstedt, Germany. Sponsored by EnBW and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the event allowed top drone manufacturers to showcase their aircraft to offshore wind operators and key figures in transport, EU drone regulation, and the German Government.
Flowcopter’s lightweight hydraulic drive system introduces a new class of aircraft, demonstrated at the Offshore Drone Challenge. EnBW emphasized that offshore wind farms are crucial for meeting climate goals, but their remote locations pose operational challenges. Innovative technologies are needed to optimize their maintenance and operation.
At the event, Flowcopter’s FC100 Utility UAV, presented by Technical Director Dr. Uwe Stein, featured a 100 kg payload capacity and a 200 km range. The UAV is seen as a commercially viable heavy-lift solution for offshore wind, helping to significantly lower O&M costs and increase uptime.
Dr. Stein explained, “The FC100 is perfect for offshore wind servicing due to its large payload, long endurance, and resistance to gusts, making it far better suited to harsh offshore conditions than current battery-electric systems.”
The Offshore Drone Challenge follows successful flight trials of the FC100 at the UAS Denmark Test Centre in April and its exhibition at the International Drone Show in May.