Passion thatearns your trust

In 2008, founder Tim Lu's interest in flight led him to model aviation. Through continuous study and hands-on experience in assembly, testing and piloting, he progressed from an enthusiast to a skilled pilot capable of handling complex operations.

That passion broadened his horizons and took him into the field. In 2010, he became involved in a land surveying project for China's Ministry of Land and Resources. Later assignments in aerial surveying, marine monitoring and aerial cinematography strengthened his flying skills and deepened his understanding of how equipment performs in different environments.

After the 2015 Nepal earthquake, Tim joined on-site emergency UAV surveying and mapping, using fixed-wing and multirotor aircraft to collect imagery for disaster assessment and rescue support. That same year, he took part in the emergency response to the August 12 Tianjin Port incident.

These experiences taught him the responsibility carried by every aircraft. How quickly equipment reaches the site, how long preparation takes, whether imagery is available in time and whether the aircraft remains reliable throughout a long operation—each stage affects the people doing the work.

The company was founded in 2017 and adopted its current Chinese name the following year. It moved into the Tianjin University Innovation Research Institute and collaborated with Tianjin University's School of Marine Science and Technology to develop a twin-hull unmanned surface vessel for hydrological surveys.

People who shared a passion for technology and a commitment to making products with care gradually came together. Collaboration with Tianjin University and other academic institutions kept engineering practice connected with research and teaching, allowing individual experience to be tested, challenged and refined through joint development.

Tim wanted a professional team that could keep developing around real operational needs. Today, ZHT brings together engineering, pilots, structural and electronics specialists, production, testing and customer support. Every discipline returns to the same objective: reliable performance in the field.

Before developing KEEL, the team had already gained folding-drone experience through NAGA and had carefully considered an X-frame. To make transport and deployment easier while leaving room for equipment and mission expansion, it chose an H-frame with arms that detach completely from the body. Disassembled, the aircraft fits into a 1.2-meter backpack.

The approach required new answers: how the central frame resists torsion, how connections endure repeated assembly, and how strength can remain intact as weight comes down. Across 30 manufacturing steps and 540 components, every detail—including the selection and placement of each screw—receives engineering consideration.

In its classic configuration, KEEL weighs approximately 4 kg without batteries and 10 kg with batteries. The name KEEL reflects its role. Just as a chassis forms the foundation of a vehicle, the airframe carries loads, supports propulsion and mission equipment, and withstands repeated takeoffs, landings, assembly and disassembly.

Greater care in design brings greater confidence in operation. Low weight and structural strength are not opposing choices; they are the result of structure, material and manufacturing working together.

Since 2022, KEEL has remained in demand and continued to evolve. It now delivers up to 160 minutes of endurance without a payload, maintaining a leading position among battery-electric UAVs in its class. What we value most is that a product built with care is still chosen by customers over time.

That recognition extended the modular approach from light-duty work to hundred-kilogram-class heavy-lift platforms. KEEL, KEEL MINI, KEEL PLUS, KEEL PRO and KEEL MAX now serve different mission requirements across a growing platform family.

Customer needs also pushed development into critical components. The team developed its own power board and CAN bus current and voltage monitoring module, refined its battery system and completed work on a BMS active-balancing technology in 2026. Compared with conventional passive balancing, it reduces energy loss, improves balancing efficiency and supports safer battery-pack operation.

We also value the support of partners. Working with brands such as T-Motor, HOBBYWING, SKYDROID and SIYI brings together airframe development, propulsion matching and complete aircraft integration. Standardized open interfaces support our payload ecosystem, backed by experience integrating more than 50 types of payload equipment.

Our experience has strengthened our belief that innovation is not the pursuit of a concept. It is sustained investment in a real problem. Like-minded people come together here, turning individual expertise into products developed as a team. Every problem solved gives us greater confidence to move forward.

The innovation at the heart of ZHT has taken tangible shape: a lighter structure, a more dependable connection, more efficient battery balancing, or multiple aircraft coordinating around one mission.

As we move forward, we will continue to begin with your practical needs and work with you to develop products that serve them well. Passion sets us in motion. Dedication earns your trust. Let innovation carry every mission forward.