Recently, Xu Yang, a student from the School of Science and Engineering and Muse College at CUHK -Shenzhen, set a Guinness World Record with his self-designed and manufactured microdrone quadcopter, "Prowess." Achieving an astonishing flight speed of 340.78 km/h, Xu Yang now holds the title for the world's fastest remote-controlled (RC) microdrone quadcopter.

A microdrone refers to an unmanned aerial vehicle weighing no more than 250 grams. The primary challenge in designing such a device lies in achieving higher propulsion efficiency and flight stability within an ultra-light frame.

For three years, this record stood untouched, regarded as the "ultimate ceiling" in the model aviation world. "This is not just a contest of speed but success of technology, design, and perseverance," said Xu Yang after his successful attempt.

Xu explained that the breakthrough performance of "Prowess" was made possible by its extreme lightweight design, optimized propulsion system, and countless meticulous iterative experiments.

Xu Yang's success is not only the result of his personal efforts but also a testament to the spirit of collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the global maker and tech enthusiast community. This "mentorship and cooperation" spirit became one of the most heartwarming stories behind his record-breaking challenge.

The concept of high-speed microdrones was first introduced by overseas creator QUADMOVR, who achieved a speed of 219 km/h with his prototype in 2022, laying the foundation for this field. Inspired by QUADMOVR’s work, Xu Yang developed the first "Prowess" in October 2024, which reached an impressive speed of 244 km/h during tests, making him a strong contender to break the record. Upon learning of Xu's progress, QUADMOVR not only congratulated him but also provided valuable technical suggestions during subsequent development stages.

Meanwhile, Samuele Gobbi, the current world speed record holder for quadricopter drone, played an important role by offering guidance on the record-breaking process. He shared a flight data analysis tool originally developed by previous record holder Luke Bell, which supported Xu on his record evidence submission.

Xu Yang, in turn, contributed to this global exchange by sharing the design blueprints for high-speed propellers with German RC hobbyist Dave_C FPV, enabling him to break past his speed barrier of 259 km/h and achieve an incredible 290 km/h. This borderless spirit of mutual support and collaboration added some special ties the high-tech challenge.

"The ultimate speed challenge is not about competition but about cooperation and mutual aid," Xu Yang said. "If someone attempts to break this record in the future, I will share my experiences without reservation."

The core competitiveness of "Prowess" lies in its exceptional design philosophy. Under a strict weight limit of just 250 grams, Xu Yang has achieved remarkable advancements in lightweight construction, power output, and aerodynamic optimization through independent research and precision manufacturing.

Prowess combines cutting-edge engineering with optimization to achieve exceptional flight performance. Its lightweight structure features a 22-gram carbon fiber truss frame and a 0.4mm 3D-printed shell with eggshell-like strength, ensuring rigidity and stability at high speeds. The custom-designed, resin-printed propeller—optimized through five iterations—boosts speed by 10% while reducing power consumption. Fine-tuned details, such as hand-polished aerodynamics, gap-sealing clay, and a preheated 40°C battery, further maximize efficiency, enabling Prowess to surpass speed expectations.

Xu Yang Reduced the Size of the "Prowess" Airframe Based on Its Configuration

High-Speed Propellers as the Key Breakthrough of "Prowess"

Xu Yang Made Multiple Optimizations Based on the Prototype

Despite "Prowess" having already set a new Guinness World Record, Xu Yang remains determined to go further. "In the future, I might try developing custom motors and using injection molding techniques for propeller production to see if I can push the speed even higher," he shared.