WSU students developing hydrogen-powered drone

WSU students developing hydrogen-powered drone

Engineering students at Washington State University are developing a drone that would be fueled by liquid hydrogen.

The university says students have tested a 55-pound drone with a 19-foot carbon-fiber wing that can carry 15 pounds. They used battery power in two test flightss and plan to move to a hydrogen fuel cell and then liquid hydrogen.

The university says hydrogen-powered craft are more environmentally friendly than those powered by fossil fuels since the only waste product is water.

An unmanned hydrogen-powered drone could fly for days at high altitude and return to earth to be re-used. It could be used to monitor the weather, survey crops or provide military surveillance.