AANTC conducts outdoor noise measurements of DJI T100 across multiple flight conditions

The team led by Professor Xin Zhang at the Aerodynamics, Acoustics and Noise Control Technology Centre (AANTC) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, together with Professor Chuntai Zheng's research group at Shenzhen Technology University, conducted outdoor noise measurements of a DJI T100 drone at the Bay Area Zhilian test facility in Pingshan District, Shenzhen, on 16–17 September 2026. The team collected acoustic data under different loading and flight conditions to study how loading and flight operation affect drone noise.

In recent years, Professor Xin Zhang's team has conducted multiple environmental noise measurement campaigns involving civil low-altitude aircraft, including drones and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, at locations in mainland China and Hong Kong. The present measurements form part of both a research project on environmental noise in the low-altitude economy supported by Hong Kong's Environment and Conservation Fund and Hong Kong's Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox project. They aim to provide an experimental basis for aircraft noise characterisation, sound propagation modelling and evidence-based technical recommendations, and to inform the development of noise standards for low-altitude aircraft.

Measuring noise across loading and flight conditions

The measurements examined drone noise under different loading and operating conditions in an outdoor environment. The acoustic recordings will support subsequent analysis of how changes in aircraft operation affect noise emissions.

The team deployed a ground microphone array to record sound during the flight tests. The acoustic measurements will support analysis of drone noise characteristics and provide an experimental basis for subsequent environmental noise assessment.

Measurements at different masses and flight conditions will also support analysis of how loading and operation affect noise.

Informing low-altitude noise assessment and management

The DJI T100 campaign is part of the team's environmental noise measurement programme for low-altitude aircraft. The programme has already included tests of drones and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft at multiple locations in mainland China and Hong Kong, and will continue to expand to additional aircraft types and operating conditions. The present campaign adds measured data across different loading and flight conditions and demonstrates the team's capability to conduct outdoor noise measurements of drones in the 150 kg class.

Building on these measurements, the team will analyse the acoustic recordings to characterise drone noise and support noise assessments of operating scenarios relevant to Hong Kong's Low-altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox. Comparisons across loading and flight conditions will support studies of individual aircraft noise emissions and acoustic impacts along flight routes and around take-off and landing sites, informing technical regulatory recommendations. The team also actively participates in research and the development of environmental noise standards for low-altitude aircraft. The measurement data and research findings will provide experimental evidence and technical support for the development of future noise measurement procedures, assessment methods and management standards.