MightyFly shows autonomous military transport drone Cento with long range
The autonomous cargo drone can carry out transport missions of almost 1000 km on its own and also drop off the cargo autonomously.
The Cento drone is loaded. A conveyor belt pulls the boxes inside. No human assistance is required for unloading. The parcels are then simply pushed out.
(Image: Screenshot / Mightyfly)
During a demonstration flight for the U.S. Air Force, the Californian company MightyFly showed the Cento transport drone for military use, which can carry out flights completely autonomously. The aircraft, designed as an eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft), can fly up to 600 miles (about 965.6 km) in one go and transport cargo weighing up to 500 pounds (about 226.8 kg).
The basic body of the Cento is about 5 meters long and has a diameter of about 0.6 meters. The interior is almost entirely reserved for freight. Boxes are loaded fully automatically via a conveyor belt and can be set down again at their destination in exactly the same way. No human assistance is required to set them down. Freight weighing up to 226.8 kg can currently be transported.
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The eVOTL is electrically powered by eight paired rotors that allow the aircraft to take off vertically. MightyFly does not provide exact details of the motors and battery used. The company only reveals that speeds of 150 mph (around 241.4 km/h) can be achieved with the existing configuration. The range is said to be 600 miles (around 965.6 km). In order to save energy, the drone has four wings, which are responsible for lift and energy-saving flight in horizontal flight. A jet engine then provides propulsion.
Military and civilian use
With these characteristics, the drone could deliver military material to combat zones very quickly. As the drone can fly autonomously and also unload cargo autonomously, there is no need for a crew that could be endangered. It is sufficient to plan the route in advance and transmit it to the on-board computer. The mission created in this way is then carried out fully automatically by the Cento.
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According to the manufacturer, the drone can also be used for civilian purposes, such as the rapid transport of important medical supplies or other logistical applications.
(olb)
