A Chinese university student has set a new Guinness World Record with a remote-controlled microdrone that flies as fast as a high-speed train.
Xu Yang, a student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Shenzhen, built the drone named Prowess. Weighing just under 250 grams, the microdrone reached a speed of 340.78 km/h (211.75 mph) during a flight on March 23 in Huizhou, Guangdong province. Guinness World Records officially recognized the record on Monday through a WeChat post.
Xu’s drone broke a record in a field where no one had succeeded for three years. The tiny aircraft, made with a lightweight carbon fiber frame, ultrathin 3D-printed shell, and specially designed high-speed propellers, demonstrates a major breakthrough in microdrone design.
“I expected it to hit around 320 km/h,” Xu said in an interview with Guinness World Records. “But it surprised me by reaching 340 km/h, and even 358 km/h with a tailwind.”
Xu began developing the drone after being inspired by Quadmovr, a drone builder and content creator. In 2022, Quadmovr introduced a microdrone concept that reached 219 km/h. Xu surpassed that in October with his own prototype reaching 244 km/h.
To improve his design, Xu collaborated with other drone builders internationally. Since no propellers on the market met his needs, he created his own, going through several design revisions to optimize performance.
To prepare for the record attempt, Xu preheated the drone’s battery to 40°C (104°F), ensuring peak performance during the flight.
Swiss engineer Samuele Gobbi, who holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest quadcopter in a larger category, praised Xu’s accomplishment. “Building a fast quadcopter is already difficult. Doing it under a 250-gram limit is incredible,” Gobbi said.
Gobbi also shared with Xu a flight data calculation method passed down from a previous record holder. Xu said the drone racing community values cooperation over competition and that he is happy to help future challengers.
Not all tests went smoothly. One prototype crashed in November due to a motor overload. Despite setbacks, Xu remains committed to pushing limits. “There is no end to the pursuit of extreme speed,” he said.
