Shadow

Originally designed as flying training targets for military purposes, drones are evolving rapidly thanks to technological advances, new materials and design solutions. Shadow is an electric-powered helicopter drone that has been completely redesigned as a next-generation intelligent flight platform for civilian applications such as firefighting, maritime affairs, public safety, energy and surveying. Inspired by the shape of marine animals such as dugongs and seahorses, Shadow has a streamlined exterior and a lowered tail boom with an integrated encapsulated tail rotor. This design allows for a shorter and more compact drone body. The design of the top of the fuselage aims to reduce in-flight turbulence caused by the irregular shape of the propeller head, which affects flight stability and duration. As a result, this unmanned helicopter remains stable even at high flight speeds, enabling fast transfers and efficient missions. The fuselage, on the other hand, is characterised by soft lines and follows minimalist design principles. The drone’s underlying design concept is technically orientated and uses clean lines and geometries to achieve a robust, futuristic aesthetic. The grey and black colour scheme and uniform appearance ensure visual longevity. By combining vacuum and foam moulding processes for the drone fuselage, it was possible to achieve greater production efficiency with a lower environmental impact. To meet the various mission requirements, Shadow uses lightweight carbon fibre materials and weighs less than 7 kg. The drone can be disassembled without tools and then easily transported. It is controlled via a user-friendly touchscreen interface without physical joysticks. “Shadow is an innovative and manoeuvrable drone showcasing a very minimalist design. The appearance is highly technical and at the same time confidence-inspiring, which increases the acceptance of this drone,” said the jury. “Shadow successfully combines new production techniques and lightweight materials with improved functionality and an excellently designed human-machine interaction.”