The takeoff weight is 8 tons, with a full load range of 1,000 kilometers. "Muyutian Aviation" focuses on the R & D and manufacturing of heavy-load eVTOL unmanned aerial vehicles. | 36Kr Early Project

Article | Zhang Zhuoqian 

Editor | Yuan Silai

In 2024, the "low-altitude economy" was written into the government work report for the first time, clearly stating "to actively build new growth engines such as biomanufacturing, commercial aerospace, and low-altitude economy". The "Implementation Plan for Innovative Application of General Aviation Equipment (2024 - 2030)" jointly issued by four departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposes that by 2030, general aviation equipment will be fully integrated into all areas of people's production and life. In terms of technological innovation, China is the world's largest source of patent technology for civilian unmanned aerial vehicles, and many enterprises are actively laying out in the field of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL).

Muyutian Aviation Technology (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Muyutian Aviation"), which 36Kr recently came into contact with, is a company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of heavy-load eVTOL unmanned aircraft, and it also has the ability of full-link independent research and development and engineering implementation. The products of "Muyutian Aviation" are divided into two types: cargo and passenger. Currently, the core product is the cargo heavy-load eVTOL. The product is a multifunctional transportation platform that can be used for cargo transportation, as well as for air emergency communication, forest fire fighting, artificial rainfall, maritime search and rescue, and special military activities.

From the vertical take-off of the aircraft to a certain height and then converting to fixed-wing flight, and then converting from fixed-wing flight to vertical flight for landing, completing the forward and reverse conversion and landing, this is a standard route flight, known as "transition flight". Wang Yong, the chairman of "Muyutian Aviation", told 36Kr, "Transition flight is the biggest technical threshold for eVTOL unmanned aircraft. There are nearly a thousand project models worldwide, but so far, only 8 can complete the transition flight with a take-off weight greater than one ton. Muyutian is the fifth in the world, and it is also the first in the world to complete the transition flight of the ton-level hybrid eVTOL."

Wang Yong introduced that most companies in the current market rely on pure electric technology for research and development. However, when the aircraft uses electric power, including motor controllers, power supplies, batteries, etc., there will be problems with its reliability and safety. The flight control and other aspects are currently not mature, and the theory and technology of the entire industry are still being explored. The hybrid technology of "Muyutian Aviation" combines the high efficiency of the fuel engine with the flexible control of the electric motor. It takes off and lands by electricity, and cruises in the air by fuel. At the same time, when cruising in the air, the engine drives the generator to charge the battery pack, without the need for ground charging, achieving efficient and stable flight in a complex environment. The advantages of the hybrid are that it has a larger load capacity, a longer range, and a lower use cost than the pure electric. The load and range performance are several times higher than that of the pure electric.

In terms of cargo eVTOL, "Muyutian Aviation" has two main products, namely the flying heavy truck AT1300 and the flying heavy truck AT8000. AT1300 is a 1.3-ton hybrid eVTOL unmanned aircraft. Its take-off weight is 1.3 tons, and its range with a full load of 500 kilograms of goods is 1,000 kilometers. This year, the flight test of multi-rotor converting to fixed-wing route flight + fixed-wing converting to multi-rotor modal safe landing has been completed. It is currently applying for airworthiness and is expected to obtain the Type Certificate (TC) from the Civil Aviation Administration by the end of 2025. "Our flying heavy truck AT8000 is currently the electric vertical take-off and landing model with the largest load capacity and the longest range in the world. Its take-off weight is 8 tons. The second is CyberRay in the United States, with a take-off weight of 4.2 to 4.3 tons," Wang Yong introduced.

The "Muyutian Aviation" flying heavy truck AT8000 has a full load of 3.5 tons of goods and a range of 1,000 kilometers. It is mainly used in logistics and can be used in scenarios where the road is inconvenient or there are requirements for timeliness, such as the transportation of fresh produce, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, frozen foods, and express parcels. "The cost per ton-kilometer of the traditional three-stage air transport is 6 yuan, while our product can achieve door-to-door service, and the cost per ton-kilometer is less than 3 yuan," Wang Yong told 36Kr, "We have calculated that within the range of 3,000 kilometers or even 4,000 kilometers, the timeliness of our product is faster than that of large aircraft."

Compared with other companies in the industry, "Muyutian Aviation" has achieved full-stack independent research and self-production from design to manufacturing. It has achieved independent control in all aspects, from aircraft concept, overall layout, aerodynamic performance, structural strength, aviation power motor to the development and integration of the entire aircraft avionics and electrical system. "Muyutian Aviation" has the ability to independently develop high-performance aviation motors, and can develop aircraft and supporting motors according to the technical requirements of the application scenarios, with a large degree of design freedom and better overall aircraft performance.

Currently, the "Muyutian Aviation" flying heavy truck AT8000 has completed the overall aircraft design and all subject flight tests of the 20% verification aircraft, and is making a full-scale prototype. It is expected to make its first flight in the second half of 2025. The flying heavy truck AT8000 has reached a cooperation with a leading logistics company. At the same time, a manned eVTOL of "Muyutian Aviation" is in the research and development stage.

In terms of the team, "Muyutian Aviation" currently has more than 70 people, and the core team accounts for more than 40%. The core team brings together professionals from institutions such as COMAC, AVIC, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Beihang University. Wang Yong, the chairman of the company, once served as the chairman of Shanghai Kuike Electromechanical Technology Development Co., Ltd., in charge of research and development, production, and operation. He has 18 years of experience in the research and development and manufacturing of light aircraft, and is proficient in the overall design, manufacturing process, molds, tooling, non-standard testing and production equipment, and the overall development and manufacturing of composite material aircraft.