SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV Tieniu Q280 (production model)

(Image credit: SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV V3000)

Tieniu Q280 (production model)
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.

Tieniu Q280 air cargo eVTOL multicopter production model
The Tieniu Q280 is an remotely piloted air cargo eVTOL multicopter production model aircraft. The aircraft cannot carry passengers. The aircraft has a modular design and can be assembled and disassembled in minutes. The front of the fuselage opens upward for air cargo to be loaded and unloaded. The maximum payload weight is 100 kg (220 lb). It is unknown if the cargo bay detaches from the frame of the multicopter.

The cruise speed of the multicopter is 40 km/h (25 mph), has a maximum range of 20 km (12 m) and has a maximum flight time of a half an hour. The multicopter has 12 propellers, 12 electric motors and uses battery packs to power the aircraft. The empty weight of the aircraft is 180 kg (397 lb), has a maximum payload weight of 100 kg (220 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 280 kg (617 lb). The multicopter has fixed skid landing gear.

According to the company website, the multicopter aircraft is for sale.

Specifications:

• Aircraft type: Air cargo eVTOL multicopter production aircraft
• Piloting: Remote piloting
• Capacity: Air cargo
• Cruise speed: 40 km/h (25 mph)
• Maximum range: 20 km (12 m)
• Maximum flight time: 1/2 hour
• Empty weight: 180 kg (397 lb)
• Maximum payload weight: 100 kg (220 lb)
• Maximum takeoff weight: 280 kg (617 lb)
• Propellers: 12 propellers 
• Electric motors: 12 electric motors
• Power source: Battery packs
• Fuselage: Carbon fiber composite
• Landing gear: Fixed skid landing gear
• Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP) uses multiple propellers or electric ducted fans, each powered by electric motors, to increase safety through redundancy. If one or more components fail, the remaining ones can still ensure a safe landing. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft providing safety through redundancy. Having multiple redundant systems on any aircraft decreases having any single point of failure.

Related aircraft:

• SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV (EFC) iUFO (prototype)
• SMD Shenzhen Smart Drone UAV Manned UFO (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.)