Fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are unmanned aerial vehicles with a fixed-wing design, widely used in surveying, geological exploration, oilfield inspection, and agricultural and forestry monitoring. In 2023, FIMI Technology launched the Manta VTOL vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) model. Developed by the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this dual-wing VTOL UAV achieved operations in environments with temperatures as low as -40℃, altitudes of 5500 meters, and winds up to force 7. In December 2025, JD Logistics completed its first overseas cargo transport test flight using an electric VTOL fixed-wing UAV.
This model consists of an airframe structure, avionics system, power system, takeoff and landing system, and ground control station. It features a modular design for easy assembly and disassembly, is powered by batteries and brushless motors, and supports catapult takeoff and parachute landing. Some new models integrate vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities, combining the takeoff and landing flexibility of multi-rotors with the long endurance of fixed-wing aircraft. The flight time can reach 4-5 hours, supporting payloads such as mapping cameras and multispectral sensors, making them suitable for scenarios such as large-area terrain mapping, oil and gas pipeline inspection, and forest fire prevention. Their adaptability to extreme environments and fully autonomous flight capabilities further expand their application boundaries in the industrial field.
