Taihua UAV

Along with its hexacopter, the quadcopter is one of the first two UAVs developed by Taihua. Originally a real estate development and construction firm, Taihua begun to diversify its business by investing more than four billion Renminbi into the development of UAVs, and this quadcopter is one of result of such diversification attempts. Taihua quadcopter made its public debut on April 14, 2014, at the opening ceremony of the foundation of Taihua robotics and UAV factory in Jizhou City.[1] Taihua quadcopter is mainly intended for aerial cinematography, photography, and survey missions, and it has entered low rate initial production as of end of 2014.[2]

Along with its quadcopter, the hexacopter is one of the first two UAVs developed by Taihua. Taihua hexacopter made its public debut on April 14, 2014 along with its smaller cousin the quadcopter, at the opening ceremony of the foundation of Taihua robotics and UAV factory in Jizhou City.[3] The landing gear of the hexacopter consists of a pair of skids which can fold 90° upward to avoid obstruction to payload such as cameras, and the hexacopter is mainly intended for agricultural, aerial cinematography, photography, and survey missions. As of end of 2014, the hexacopter has entered low rate initial production.[2]

Octocopter is the third multirotor developed by Taihua, and it is the largest multicopter developed by Taihua (as end of 2014). Like its smaller cousin the hexacopter, the landing gear of the octocopter consists of a pair of skids which can fold 90° upward to avoid obstruction to payload such as cameras, and the octocopter is mainly intended for agricultural, aerial cinematography, photography, and survey missions. Taihua octocopter made its public debut on December 6, 2014 when a group of Chinese governmental officials visited Taihua robotic and UAV production facility in Jizhou City.[4]

Unmanned helicopter is another rotary wing UAV developed by Taihua, and it is mainly intended for agricultural applications such as crop dusting. Taihua unmanned helicopter utilizes commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) subsystems such as airframe and flight control systems (FCS), and integrating them into one complete system. Taihua unmanned helicopter is in conventional helicopter layout with a pair of skids as landing gear.[5] Along with Taihua octocopter, Taihua unmanned helicopter made its public debut on December 6, 2014 when a group of Chinese governmental officials visited Taihua robotic and UAV production facility in Jizhou City.[4]

Taihua fixed-wing UAV is an UAV in twin boom layout with high wing configuration and winglets. Propulsion is provided by a two-blade propeller driven pusher engine mounted at the rear end of the fuselage, which the tricycle landing gear is attached to. The general designer of this fixed-wing UAV is the chief technology officer of UAV department of Taihua, Mr. Chen Wei (陈巍), who had previously been the general designer of several Chinese fixed-wing UAVs, Expedition series UAVs, before joining Taihua.[6] As of end of 2014, Taihua fixed-wing UAV has received orders and production has begun.[6] The UAV is mainly intended for aerial survey and surveillance missions.

List of unmanned aerial vehicles of China