DMI DS30 hydrogen fuel cell drone, 2-hour flight
Long-duration drones require optimized power pack PDNs.
Bycor Supports PDN Design with Modular Regulators


The utility of drones is increasing with the introduction of hydrogen fuel cells.

In 2020, Doosan Mobility Innovation (DMI) conducted demonstrations of its hydrogen fuel cell drone, the DS30, capable of two-hour flight, in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Jeju Island. DMI's hydrogen fuel cell technology laid the foundation for accelerating mobile robot development through its extended flight range and load capacity.

In addition, the company completed extensive solar panel testing at Haenam Solar City, the largest solar power plant in Korea, confirming its potential for commercial applications. To perform the same mission under the same conditions with a drone equipped with existing batteries, the batteries would need to be replaced more than six times.

Developing hydrogen fuel cells for mobility requires comprehensive technological innovation, from materials science to system-level design optimization. The key to mobility is miniaturization, lightweight design, and efficiency. Furthermore, high energy output and durability are required to ensure stable, long-term flight.

To achieve this, the system must be optimized by reducing the weight of the stack itself, configuring a powertrain with high power density, and simplifying the design of the entire power pack, including peripheral components. The core of this design lies in the system's Power Delivery Network (PDN) implementation and architecture.