Former Polytechnic student manufactures drones for export to the US

Having dreamed of becoming a pilot, Ha Cong Thien, a former student of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, has realized his dream in a different way - by making his own drone.

The path that brought young engineer Ha Cong Thien to the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) industry was not paved with available opportunities, but with bold choices. Instead of joining a popular software or technology company, he chose a new direction in Vietnam: manufacturing multi-purpose drones for industry, defense and rescue.

Engineer Ha Cong Thien checks drones.

"Pilot" builds airplanes

Born in 2001, growing up in Hoi An ( Quang Nam , now part of Da Nang City), Ha Cong Thien belongs to the young generation entering the world of technology with a different mindset: not just using, but creating with your own hands.

He said his passion began with remote-controlled airplane models in high school. “ When I was young, I dreamed of becoming a pilot. But the more I learned, the more I found myself drawn to questions like why can an airplane fly? Finally, I realized that I didn’t have to sit in the cockpit, I could also be the one who created those wings .”

Graduated from the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Ha Cong Thien joined Realtime Robotics Vietnam Joint Stock Company (RtR), a company founded by Dr. Luong Viet Quoc, headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park, gathering more than 70 domestic and foreign engineers.

For Thien, creating a "Vietnamese brand" drone is not just about production, but a long journey of research, testing and innovation, where young engineers continue to write the national technology dream every day.

Currently a system integration engineer at Realtime Robotics, Ha Cong Thien is responsible for testing, evaluating and integrating new technology for each version of the Hera drone.

He said there were times when the entire engineering team had to work through the night in the workshop, designing, manufacturing prototypes, and then taking them to the testing site. “ From optimizing the fuselage frame to better withstand the wind, programming the control system more smoothly, to ensuring the aircraft still operates stably at temperatures tens of degrees below zero… everyone tried to perfect the product ,” he said.

Thien and colleagues during the 20kg load test. (Photo: NVCC)

What makes them persevere, according to Ha Cong Thien, is not only the commercial goal, but also the desire to prove that Vietnamese people can master core technology - a field that the world once believed only a few countries were capable of.

“ We don’t want Vietnam to just import drones. We want our name to appear on product labels and be used abroad as a device that is respected for its quality ,” Thien said.

Realtime Robotics is currently known for its Hera drone line - a product "self-designed, self-manufactured" entirely in Vietnam, meeting export standards to the US.

For engineer Ha Cong Thien and his colleagues, each product upgrade is a true technology competition, from optimizing AI processing capabilities directly on the device, operating four cameras simultaneously, to securing flight data according to international standards.

“ There are always difficulties, but every time I see the product take off smoothly, I feel like my childhood dream is flying ,” he said.

Vietnamese drones meet US standards

Hera is Realtime Robotics' flagship drone model. Compact and foldable in a backpack, Hera has impressive power: lifting loads of up to 15 kg, while simultaneously attaching four specialized devices such as a color camera, a thermal camera, and lights...

The aircraft can fly continuously for 56 minutes without load and 16 minutes with maximum load, operate stably in harsh conditions from -20°C to 45°C, withstand wind level 6 and transmit live images within a radius of 10 km.

The Hera drone can fly continuously for 56 minutes. (Photo: NVCC)

Hera meets the US government 's data security standards (NDAA), and is used in many missions in the US such as infrastructure surveys, rescue and testing in the Alaskan snow and ice.

“ To enter the US market, the product must comply with NDAA standards, which means not using electronic components from countries banned from being imported into the US. Therefore, in addition to some mandatory imported parts such as cameras or sensors, the entire body frame, circuit board, and control software are all designed and manufactured by a team of Vietnamese engineers ,” Thien shared.

In Vietnam, Hera has been applied in many practical tasks. The University of Electricity uses this drone model to survey and inspect power transmission lines, helping to save time and ensure safety for engineers.

In particular, Department C07 - Ministry of Public Security has deployed Hera in rescue, disaster relief and firefighting situations, where the device becomes an "eye from above", providing live image data, supporting functional forces to handle situations faster and more accurately.

Vietnamese-made drone test-flighted in the US. (Video: NVCC)

According to engineer Ha Cong Thien, with the ability to carry many specialized devices at the same time, Hera has great potential in rescue, relief and disaster response activities. Drones can be equipped with thermal cameras to detect people trapped in fires, loudspeakers or high-power spotlights to guide evacuations, and even drop necessities to areas isolated by floods.

Hera versions can fly autonomously along pre-programmed routes, transmitting real-time images to the command center, helping authorities quickly identify dangerous areas. The ability to operate stably in light rain, strong winds or extreme temperatures makes this device an effective "flying eye" in many emergency situations.

Engineer Ha Cong Thien (far left) in a sharing session about Connecting green human resource training places for businesses.

Ms. Vu Kim Hanh, Chairwoman of the Association of High-Quality Vietnamese Goods Enterprises, commented: “ To master core technology, we must start with invention. Vietnamese people may not have much money, but their intelligence is always abundant. Hera is proof: invention, design, manufacturing and commercialization… are all mastered by Vietnamese people .”

The dream of becoming a pilot brought Thien to the sky, but the choice to become an engineer helped him touch the sky in a different way, not only controlling, but also creating flying machines with his own hands. And if the “made in Vietnam” drones continue to reach out to the world, it will not only be the story of an individual, but a milestone affirming the creative capacity of the young generation of Vietnamese engineers.

NGUYEN LIEN

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cuu-sinh-vien-bach-khoa-che-tao-may-bay-khong-nguoi-lai-xuat-khau-sang-my-ar984511.html