Artificial weather modification has become a vital tool for advancing agriculture and ecological preservation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, major policies such as the Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development of Artificial Weather Modification and the Outline for High-Quality Meteorological Development (2022–2035) have provided strong support for ecological restoration and the construction of a beautiful China.
However, one long-standing challenge in this field has been ensuring the safety of drones used for artificial weather modification, particularly in high-altitude conditions where icing on the wings can jeopardize flight safety.
The Challenge: Icing Risks in High-Altitude Drone Operations
Drones play a crucial role in artificial weather modification, serving applications in agricultural productivity, water resource management, and environmental protection. However, atmospheric supercooled droplets can easily form ice on leading edges such as the wings, affecting aerodynamic performance and threatening flight safety. Research shows that as little as 1mm of ice on a wing’s leading edge can reduce lift by 30% and increase drag by over 40%, risking stall or crash.
Existing anti-icing solutions often suffer from limited effectiveness, short operational lifespans, and high energy consumption, restricting their practical application.
The Innovation: Multifunctional Advantages of Graphene Skinned Glass Fiber
BGI’s self-developed Graphene Skinned glass fiber material combines graphene’s conductivity and heat transfer properties with the strength and flexibility of glass fiber. This lightweight, stable, and multifunctional material offers a groundbreaking solution for combating wing icing in extreme environments.
Its woven structure can be customized with adjustable surface resistance to meet various application scenarios. The material has already been successfully applied to wind turbine blades and aviation components. In March 2023, the first wind turbine blade equipped with this technology was installed, marking the beginning of a new era for Graphene Skinned glass fiber applications.
Technical Breakthrough: Composite Electrodes for Anti-Icing Solutions
BGI’s drone team innovatively incorporated Graphene Skinned glass fiber into the anti-icing field, overcoming the long-standing technical bottleneck of drone wing icing. The team developed a composite electrode technology using "copper spray + copper mesh + Graphene Skinned glass fiber conductive fibers," alongside a specially designed crimp terminal for heater connections.
These advancements significantly improved current-carrying capacity, tensile strength, and stability, addressing the challenge of high-altitude anti-icing for drones. The resulting heating components effectively prevent icing, ensuring safe operations during artificial weather modification tasks.
Feasibility Validation: A New Standard for Flight Safety
Following the technical breakthrough, BGI conducted extensive feasibility tests, evaluating compatibility, heating rates, waterproofing, insulation, and electrical strength. The results demonstrated that the innovative composite process enables rapid de-icing in high-altitude environments while maintaining compatibility and stability between resistance elements and wing surfaces. This major breakthrough provides robust safety assurances for drone operations.
Practical Applications: Driving High-Quality Development of Weather Modification
In 2024, BGI’s weather modification drones equipped with Graphene Skinned glass fiber anti-icing wings were successfully delivered in bulk. These drones, with their outstanding anti-icing capabilities, excel in navigating complex terrains and extreme climates, offering efficient and precise solutions for artificial weather modification.
- April 2024: First successful installation of Graphene Skinned-equipped drones.
- 2024 Zhuhai Airshow: The TL-120 drone made its debut, showcasing its advanced capabilities.
Empowering Modern Agriculture and Ecological Conservation
Graphene Skinned glass fiber has become a flagship product for BGI, driving advancements in drone anti-icing technology and promoting high-quality development in weather modification projects. Its application is contributing to modern agriculture and ecological conservation, highlighting BGI’s ability to transform scientific innovation into impactful industrial solutions.
Looking ahead, BGI is committed to further advancing graphene commercialization, deepening collaboration with industry partners, and achieving seamless integration of technology and industry to create a brighter, more sustainable future.
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.