1st unmanned helicopter for marine surveillance

Guangzhou (CNS) -- The South China University of Technology announced on Thursday that it had turned over China's first unmanned helicopter for marine surveillance to the Guangdong provincial marine surveillance authority.

The small-rotor aircraft takes off vertically and occupies less space, an advantage for landing aboard a ship, Pei Hailong, head of the research team, told CNS.

The craft has a top speed of 90 kilometers per hour, cruises at 50 kilometers per hour and can work nonstop for one hour with a 10-kilo load, Pei added. It can fly to an altitude of 1,000 meters and only uses 10 kilos of gasoline every four hours while unloaded.

It also remained steady while encountering winds on a scale of five to six during test flights, he said.

According to Pei, the aircraft will be used for marine inspection and environmental protection in provincial waters.