HKU Engineers Develop Autonomous Drone “SUPER” That Navigates Without GPS at High Speeds

A research team from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong has developed an advanced autonomous drone named “SUPER,” capable of flying at 45 miles per hour through complex environments without relying on GPS or external lighting. This breakthrough overcomes the traditional limitations of drones that depend on pre-set routes or external guidance, bringing flight autonomy closer to that of birds.

With a compact 280mm frame and weighing only 1.5 kilograms, SUPER is equipped with a lightweight 3D LiDAR sensor capable of detecting obstacles within a 70-meter range — including objects as small as 2.5mm, such as wires or branches. Its core innovation lies in the tight integration of hardware and software: by processing LiDAR point cloud data in real-time and using a dual-path planning algorithm, the system minimizes computational latency. One path optimizes for speed and exploration of unknown areas, while the other ensures safety by prioritizing known, obstacle-free routes.

SUPER has demonstrated exceptional performance in challenging scenarios such as dense forests at night and historic site exploration, showcasing its all-weather operational capabilities. The team highlights its potential for applications including search and rescue, disaster response, power line inspection, and forest monitoring. For instance, in collapsed buildings or remote woodlands, SUPER could rapidly locate survivors or assess hazards, and efficiently deliver emergency supplies to hard-to-reach areas.