Chinese university students break speed record with self-made miniature drone

To drone fanatics, nothing gets the pulse racing like raw speed can.

On 23 March, Chinese hobbyist Xu Yang clinched a Guinness World Records title with his handcrafted micro quadcopter “Prowess”, clocking a jaw-dropping 340.78 km/h (211.7 mph) - the fastest ground speed by a remote-controlled (RC) micro drone quadcopter.

The triumph cemented a landmark in micro drone design and power engineering.

A micro drone, capped at 250 grams (about the weight of an iPhone 14 Pro Max), is a niche beast in the drone world. Its featherweight build and power-efficiency make it a sleeper hit with serious potential.

Xu Yang’s drive to break the record came from overseas blogger QUADMOVR, who in 2022 floated the concept and hit 219 km/h (136 mph) with a prototype. That unofficial benchmark stood tall until October 2024, when Xu Yang’s first Prowess screamed to 244 km/h (151.6 mph) in tests, shaking up the scene. 

QUADMOVR didn’t just tip his hat - he kept Xu Yang pumped with encouragement, making their cross-border tech swap a highlight of this saga.

Xu Yang linked up with speed chasers worldwide. He shared propeller designs with German enthusiast Dave_C FPV, boosting him from 259 km/h (160.9 mph) to 290 km/h (180.1 mph). 

Samuele Gobbi, the current record holder for the fastest ground speed by a battery-powered remote-controlled (RC) quadcopter with the record of 557.64 km/h (346.5 mph), lent a hand with key tips, including an Excel speed calculator - first crafted by ex-record holder Luke Bell, handed to Samuele, then to Xu Yang.

Samuele said: “Xu Yang pulled off what many thought was straight-up impossible - or at least wild! Building a high-speed quad is tough enough, but slapping on a 250-gram cap? I’m in awe.

"His 3D-printed propellers are game-changers, perfect for quick tweaks and optimization. Plus, he’s a super cool dude - we chat about our records or hot new drone gear all the time.”

“It’s not about outdoing each other, it’s about teaming up and helping out,” Xu Yang added. “If someone gunning for this record comes along, I’ll share everything I know.” 

Prowess’ craftsmanship is next-level. Its 22-gram truss-style carbon fiber frame balances high-speed rigidity with minimal weight. The 0.4 mm-thick 3D-printed fairing, a mere 10 grams, boasts egg-shell stability, holding firm against 340 km/h (211.2 mph) gusts.

Custom resin 3D-printed propellers were a beast to design - no off-the-shelf options cut it at these speeds. Pitch, diameter, airfoil, chord length - every spec had to sync perfectly with motor RPM and torque, while staying 3D-printable. After five rounds of tweaks, the fourth version juiced speed by 10% and slashed power use by 10%, a linchpin for the record.

To shave off drag, Xu Yang polished the fairing, painted it slick, and sealed gaps with ultra-light clay. On challenge day, he kept the battery at 40°C for max juice, a slick move that likely pushed the speed way past expectations.

“Tests pegged us at about 320 km/h (198.8 mph), but we hit 340 km/h (211.2 mph), even 358 km/h (222.45 mph) with tailwinds. Man, that moment was electric!” he said.

The grind was real - countless crashes and rebuilds, wrestling every gram and watt. In November 2024, a prototype crashed due to a motor overload, wrecking the shell and frame. Xu Yang bounced back, mining data to fuel the final win.

Prowess may have etched a new record, but Xu Yang’s not relaxing just yet. “I’m eyeing fresh projects. Maybe custom motors or molded propellers to crank Prowess even faster,” he grinned. “Chasing speed? There’s no finish line.”