The new drone can operate on land, in the air, and underwater.

"Illustration of a 3D-printed drone transitioning between air and water environments, generated by artificial intelligence." (Rude Baguette)

The new drone can operate on land, in the air, and underwater.

In the 1930s, the Soviet engineers tried to create the aircraft-submarine combination. That system could slip near the target underwater and launch attack systems. Then that system can fly away from that area. The problem was that technology was not advanced enough. But AI-controlled quadcopters can make it possible to create that kind of system. Theoretically, the nuclear-powered systems can make even full-size “flying submarines” possible. The system can use quadcopter technology. The new drone can dive and fly. But there is a possibility to make those drones more versatile than systems that can fly and dive. The new drone can have multiple sensors, such as sonars and radar altimeters, at the propeller frames. 

The quadcopters are less sensitive than helicopters to cases where they hit some walls if their propellers are protected by using frames. The rotating frame allows the system to travel through very narrow points. And if the system can adjust the propeller's position by pulling them together when the robot or quadcopter system swims through a narrow hole, it makes those systems more flexible than a regular helicopter can be. 

 But the smaller systems can make it possible to create systems that can fly, dive, and drive on roads. 

The new drone can operate in the air and underwater. An interesting thing in hydro- and aerodynamics is that using the same dimensions, it is possible to make many sizes of crafts from pocket-size applications to truck-size systems. The next step can be a drone that can drive on roads, fly, and travel underwater, which can slip in places where regular drones cannot operate. Those drones can travel in aircraft safety hangars. And the AI-controlled drones can stay on the ground and wait for the right moment. 

That kind of technology is the new tool for many things, from research to leisure, and military applications. The drone that can turn its propellers to push along the frame can make it possible for those systems to operate underwater. Then the propellers or propeller pairs can turn into positions that make the system a “regular” quadcopter. And finally, when the drone operator wants to drive on the road, the propeller frames act as wheels. Those drones can act as research systems, or they can even transport groups of people. 

The high-tech system operates almost independently. And that makes the system easy to handle. Those systems can be manned or unmanned. And they can be dropped from airships, aircraft, or from submarines. The ability to travel on ground, airborne, or underwater makes it possible for drones to operate in complicated situations. They can observe drain systems. They can travel in caves that can be very narrow. The ability to travel in three elements gives those drones abilities that can be used in some accident, or as a military target. 

Theoretically, that kind of drone can carry even small nuclear explosives.  Those drones can be delivered from some airships or bigger drones. And the thing is that those modern drones can be carried using manned aircraft, or some larger-sized drones, or even satellites. There are many roles that drones can play. They can travel over an area and send wake-up signals to the eavesdropping and surveillance tools that somebody has hidden in offices and other rooms.  

https://www.rudebaguette.com/en/2025/07/this-thing-shouldnt-even-work-viral-student-drone-stuns-engineers-as-it-flies-dives-and-swims-like-a-high-tech-beast/                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

The new heat shield material opens China's path to next-generation hypersonic flight.

"Illustration of a carbide ceramic material capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, revolutionizing hypersonic technology, generated by artificial intelligence." (Rude Baquette, “They Flew Through Hellfire”: China’s New Heat Shield Shatters Thermal Limits, Unlocking Next-Level Hypersonic Speeds)

"In a groundbreaking advancement that could redefine aerospace and energy industries, Chinese scientists have developed a revolutionary carbide ceramic capable of withstanding temperatures up to 6,512 degrees Fahrenheit (3600 C), surpassing current thermal limits and opening new frontiers for hypersonic technology." (Rude Baquette, “They Flew Through Hellfire”: China’s New Heat Shield Shatters Thermal Limits, Unlocking Next-Level Hypersonic Speeds)

One of the leading states in hypersonic R&D work is China. When we talk about hypersonic flight in the atmosphere, we must realize that things like pressure and heat cause problems with reusable systems like hypersonic jet fighters. The main problem with hypersonic aircraft and their heat shield is how to remove heat from the heat shield. When a heat shield stores heat energy, that thing makes its structure weaker. And if there is a hole that lets thermal energy impact the aircraft’s body. And that is a fatal case. There is one way to conduct energy out of the shell. 

And that is to store liquid gas like liquid nitrogen in a thermos bottle. When the aircraft’s shell turns too hot, the system injects liquid gas into it. In some other models, some liquids like water or some hydrocarbons flow in the cooling tubes. If the shell is connected to those tubes, it can decrease the temperature. In some models, the aircraft’s fuel will travel to the engine through the cooling tube. 

That increases the hydrocarbons like. Methane or hydrogen, at a higher temperature. That allows the injection of the preheated fuel into the combustion chamber of the ramjet or scramjet engines. In that case, those engines must not create as much friction heat as in the case of cold fuel for reaching the inflammation point. 

Otherwise, the aircraft’s body can involve air tunnels, and the cooler elements are connected to the critical points of the hypersonic aircraft. The idea is that the ram-air that travels in those tubes conducts temperature out from the shell and conducts it to the airflow. There are multiple things. That can help keep the temperature on the aircraft’s shell low enough. The hypersonic flight is the next-generation tool in missiles, bombers, and fighters. That allows the system to travel lower than satellites but almost as fast as a ballistic missile.

Today, there are hypersonic missiles that are single-use attack weapons. But the hypersonic systems can also give new abilities to the space systems and things like attack and reconnaissance aircraft. The next-generation reusable systems can increase the air force strike capacity to a very high level. A hypersonic missile that is launched from a hypersonic aircraft can be the next-generation attack system. In the same way, if the hypersonic aircraft attacks a target using a cannon, the result is devastating. 

But reusable hypersonic aircraft require a new type of advanced heat shield. The hypersonic jet fighter is much more difficult to make than a hypersonic missile. But technology is advancing. And that means that. The new hypersonic strike and reconnaissance aircraft can be airborne sooner than we expect. Or maybe they are already in service. 

https://www.rudebaguette.com/en/2025/07/they-flew-through-hellfire-chinas-new-heat-shield-shatters-thermal-limits-unlocking-next-level-hypersonic-speeds/