The world’s largest unmanned electric cargo plane

  • Reading Time:2Minutes

The Pelican Cargo aircraft from Pyko could make freight transport easier, with a range of up to 321 kilometres on a single charge, and the manufacturer promises it will be faster and cheaper than traditional ground and air transport.

As in the automotive industry, the aviation industry is increasingly focusing on environmental protection, but self-driving is also a common thread. The new Pelican Cargo aircraft from the Californian company Pyka has both: it is electrically powered and can fly without a pilot. The manufacturer claims in a recent announcement that it is the largest zero-emission unmanned cargo aircraft in its class.

Michael Norcia, Pyka CEO, stressed that the aircraft is designed to minimise carbon emissions in logistics, while offering a significant speed advantage over ground transport and being cheaper than conventional air freight.

The aircraft has a range of up to 321 kilometres and can carry a payload of 181 kg. The battery pack has a capacity of 55 kWh and the aircraft is powered by four 25 kW electric motors. Safety has also been taken care of, with triple redundant batteries installed to ensure that there are no problems in the event of a failure.

The aircraft is 7.3 metres long, 2.1 metres high and has a wingspan of 11.5 metres. It can reach cruising speeds of 148-167 km/h and, because it can cope with shorter runways, it can easily reach places with poor infrastructure. The aircraft also features modern technologies, with advanced multi-core processors and multiple computers to process incoming data. It looks forward with lidar and down with lasers. Only one pilot on the ground is needed to program the plane and it can communicate via satellite link.

Pyka has raised its first A round of $37 million from investors and has already received more than 80 pre-orders. For now, testing is underway and it is expected to be flying operationally from the second half of this year.

Source: interestingengineering.com

More articles you may be interested in...

Drones News & Articles

The hydrogen-powered military drone is launched

Drones News & Articles

Delivery by drones in 2025

Picture this: you’re sipping your morning coffee, glancing out the window, when a faint buzz cuts through the air. A sleek, winged machine hovers above your backyard, drops a package with pinpoint accuracy, and zips off into the horizon. No delivery van, no traffic jams just a drone doing its...>>>...READ MORE

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Archer Aviation and Palantir Technologies unite to forge the AI-driven future of aviation

On March 13, 2025, a groundbreaking collaboration was unveiled in Santa Clara, California, as Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) and...>>>...READ MORE

Additional aircraft News & Articles

Bio-inspired drone technology: pioneering Mars exploration

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

Joby and Virgin Atlantic announce groundbreaking partnership

News & Articles Points of interest

Artificial intelligence outperforms human pilots in simulated air combat

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming military technology, with significant advancements in autonomous combat systems...>>>...READ MORE

more

Flying Cars News & Articles

Will we have flying cars before fully self-driving cars ?

EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles

EHang: Record Growth and Breakthrough in Urban Air Mobility – A Detailed Analysis of 2024 Financial Results

EHang Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (UAM) technology platform company, reported exceptional financial and operational results for the fourth quarter (Q4) and fiscal year (FY) 2024. The company’s performance reflects significant progress in scaling production, securing regulatory approvals, and expanding...>>>...READ MORE

Drones News & Articles

Drones and artificial intelligence: a new era of agricultural decision-making

Picture this: a farmer steps out onto his porch at dawn, coffee in hand, and...>>>...READ MORE

more

Drones News & Articles

BYD and DJI create a car with a drone

BYD, in collaboration with drone industry leader DJI, has unveiled an innovative feature that integrates a drone directly into an electric vehicle, offering a new dimension of driving experience. This breakthrough technology, known as the Ling Yuan system, allows drivers and passengers to track their journey from the air, enhancing...>>>...READ MORE