SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV (EFC) iUFO (prototype)

iUFO (prototype)
EFC (original company name)
SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV Co. Ltd.
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
www.smd-uav.com
www.smd-uav.cn

The information provided here is as accurate as possible; however, eVTOL information from China is sometimes sparse, incomplete or conflicting. China is promoting what they call the "low-altitude economy" — a new push for general aviation — which includes both crewed and uncrewed passenger and air cargo eVTOL aircraft.

Founded in 2014, the SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV Co. Ltd. is located in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. We are actually not sure of the exact name of their company because their company name is listed four or five different ways on their website. The company is in the business of designing and manufacturing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) passenger aircraft for advanced air mobility (AAM). In China, they call these new aircraft as part of the low-altitude economy. It has been reported the company has several global invention patents.

We are guessing that the original company was called EFC with the purpose to design, manufacture and build passenger electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) development company. The company was based in Shenzen, Guangdong Province, China. We think that SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV Co. Ltd. purchased the company.

iUFO passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft
The iUFO is a two passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft. The pilot and passenger sit in the middle of the aircraft under a canopy over the cockpit providing panoramic views for both pilot and passenger. The company's aircraft design is very similar to many spaceships found in 1940s and 1950s Hollywood alien invasion science fiction movies. The alien aircraft in these movies were typically called unidentified flying objects (UFOs), flying saucers and spaceships.

The prototype has six propellers, six electric motors and is powered by battery packs. The aircraft has fixed skid landing gear. While it is impossible to see how many propellers are in each propeller duct, you can see the shadow of one propeller in the picture.

The company designed and manufactured the iUFO two-seater eVTOL disc-shaped aircraft which was revealed to have made outdoor tethered test flights. The aircraft was intended for recreational use and in theme parks.

It is thought the company was either purchased or changed their name to the Shenzhen UFO Flying Saucer Technology company. Then we believe the Shenzhen UFO Flying Saucer Technology company changed its name or was purchased by the SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV Co. Ltd.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Passenger eVTOL prototype aircraft
• Piloting: 1 pilot
• Capacity: 1 passenger
• Propellers: 6 propellers
• Electric motors: 6 electric motors
• Power source: Batteries
• Fuselage: Unknown
• Window: Bubble canopy over cockpit
• Landing gear: Fixed strut landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.

Related aircraft:

• SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV Manned UFO (production model)
• SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV TIENIU Q280 (production model)
• SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV V800 (production model)
• SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV V3000 (concept design)

Resources:

• SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV website (dot.com website. This is the typical .com domain website.)
• SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV website (dot.cn website. This is Chinese domain name website.)
• Twitter post: iUFO outdoor tethered flight, Xin Gou, Sept. 29, 2021
• Article: China's Rising eVTOL Industry, Vertiflite, Nov/Dec 2021