MightyFly makes a long-range, autonomous cargo drone that may carry greater than 100 kilos in cargo – a growth that would revolutionize categorical supply shipments for a variety of industries.
The next is a visitor publish by Single Seat Consulting founder, Invoice Johnson. DRONELIFE neither makes nor accepts fee for visitor posts.
MightyFly Wins $150K Demo Grant to Present Their Device to Revolutionize Logistics
By Invoice Johnson
MightyFly, a producer and operator of long-range, autonomous, hybrid electrical vertical takeoff and touchdown (eVTOL) cargo plane, introduced in a 28 June 2023 press launch the award of a $150,000 grant on 30 Could 2023 from the Michigan Mobility Funding Program. Beneath the phrases of the grant, MightyFly will carry out the primary public demonstration of an autonomous, fixed-wing eVTOL plane showcasing 100 kilos of cargo deliveries.
Supported by the Michigan Workplace of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), these demonstration flights will present MightyFly the prospect to showcase 100 kilos of autonomous cargo supply. On this manner, MightyFly expects to supply potential clients with tangible proof of their categorical supply options that can carry new logistics alternatives to companies.
As detailed within the press launch, the logistics wants of Michigan’s manufacturing, automotive, logistics, retail, chemical and pharmaceutical industries supply the perfect state of affairs for MightyFly to reveal a brand new approach to ship merchandise, elements, provides and numerous items. These Michigan companies want categorical logistics, with quick, environment friendly, and inexpensive same-day delivery providers. MightyFly sees their one-shot business-to-business (B2B) supply providers as offering price financial savings for just-in-time manufacturing traces, well timed supply of essential shipments for medical therapies, and fast replacements of fast-moving shopper items to retailers.
MightyFly CEO, Manal Habib defined in a latest interview, the demonstration flights are scheduled to happen over a two-week interval and plan to conduct autonomous point-to-point flights that spotlight a number of essential use circumstances of specific curiosity to the anticipated buyer base. “We’re going to reveal full autonomous flight from takeoff to cruise flight to touchdown, whereas demonstrating quite a lot of cargo deliveries. This would be the first entry [of a large autonomous fixed-wing eVTOL] into the market. We will probably be demonstrating to our future clients what we will serve them, how significantly better it’s and the way rather more handy it’s. Most occasions, comfort is priceless!”
Habib sees Michigan as a main location to reveal this functionality. For her, Michigan is increasing their industrial base into Superior Air Mobility whereas additionally being very supportive of start-ups like MightyFly. “Michigan is at the moment placing lots of effort into getting into the Superior Air Mobility market. Having been within the transportation sector and seeing the observe transportation is shifting on, it solely is sensible to enter the aviation market. To that finish, they’re doing loads to draw many start-ups.”
She additionally famous the state is working to each assist their long-standing automotive business and transfer in direction of the way forward for mobility, “There may be at the moment a reasonably large want within the {hardware} business for inexpensive same-day supply providers to maintain their just-in-time manufacturing working. This goes past manufacturing, to retail and different companies as effectively, however what stands out about Michigan is the automotive business and the way the federal government proper now could be making an attempt to again aviation to each assist the automotive business and ensure that Michigan goes to be a part of the longer term, and the longer term is in aviation.”
The press launch explains the grant program is managed by the OFME as a part of a statewide technique to make sure Michigan stays the worldwide chief in the way forward for mobility, electrification coverage and innovation. This system was launched by the Michigan Financial Improvement Company (MEDC) and the Michigan Division of Transportation (MDOT) to catalyze and scale new mobility options that enhance environmental sustainability by encouraging EV adoption and charging infrastructure buildout, rising entry to inexpensive and dependable transportation choices and modernizing current transportation methods for Michiganders. The OFME has beforehand partnered with the Michigan Unmanned Aerial Methods Consortium (MUASC) to facilitate testing of autonomous plane in Michigan. The OFME works throughout state authorities, regulators, academia and personal business to construct a strong ecosystem of companions able to main the adoption and use of transformative mobility options like that of MightyFly.
“We all know the way forward for mobility is extra than simply autos – it’s on air, land and sea,” mentioned Charlie Tyson, Know-how Activation Supervisor, OFME. “Michigan is uniquely positioned to assist testing, growth, and deployment of latest applied sciences that can result in extra inexpensive, accessible transportation options and we’re excited to assist MightyFly by means of the MMFP program and their continued efforts to develop in Michigan.”
Habib’s enthusiasm for the chance to reveal their aircrafts functionality is apparent within the press launch assertion, “We’re excited to be the primary massive, autonomous, fixed-wing eVTOL cargo supply firm to reveal how autonomous aerial expedited logistics options will higher serve Michiganders. This demonstration would be the first stepping stone for the environment friendly move of products internationally, making it attainable for everybody to entry dependable and inexpensive same-day deliveries. We will probably be making historical past!”
The imaginative and prescient for MightyFly continues after these demonstrations that will probably be carried out beneath their FAA particular airworthiness certificates. Along with this challenge, MightyFly is at the moment scoping and planning proof of idea (POCs) trials with companions all through 2024 and 2025. Habib says they’re working intently with the FAA in direction of the final word objective of a Half 135 approval together with a sort and manufacturing certification to function as a logistics service supplier.
MightyFly’s present facility, that has manufactured the R&D plane, will be capable to produce a number of third technology manufacturing plane. Nevertheless, as they scale their operations, they’re open to increasing with different choices. As Habib said: “We at the moment developed full functionality to fabricate in-house. This permits us to maneuver shortly, as a result of after getting all the pieces in-house, you’ll be able to, particularly within the R&D phases, churn by means of the event of plane shortly.”
MightyFly sees their automobile as having the three vital parts wanted to unravel the just-in-time logistics drawback confronted by {hardware} producers. First is autonomy and the price financial savings it can present operators. Habib factors out, “Plane which can be electrical however are usually not autonomous, have an enormous drawback as a result of they nonetheless should pay for labor. And that is the largest price consider logistics.”
For Habib, simply as essential, the flexibility to take off and land vertically offers the required comfort and time financial savings that can assist just-in-time operations. She is adamant on this level, “If you’re actually seeking to present these hourly, handy options, you should have a one-shot supply from supply to vacation spot. If it’s a must to do a primary step, go to the airport, unload and cargo, and do a second step from airport to airport, then a 3rd step. Now now we have three phases and every have loading and unloading. Overlook about comfort and hourly, as a result of now you might be at a day or extra <for supply>. So there’s a enormous drawback when these plane don’t couple autonomy and eVTOL.
The ultimate aspect is economic system of scale. MightyFly promotes its third-generation autonomous cargo plane as having a 100 kilos cargo capability and a 6 ft by 19 inch by 18 inch cargo bay, able to carrying as much as 212 small USPS packages.
For Habib, smaller, single bundle supply drones simply can’t compete. “There are lots of the small <logistics drones> however the small ones actually lose the economic system of scale. In the event you solely carry one bundle, it’s like FEDEX or UPS engaged on bikes.”
The aerial logistics market seems to be very aggressive. However in her eyes, Habib sees MightyFly in a very good place. “Once you get know-how like ours, it unlocks a big market,” she says. Including, “So you actually wish to carry the economic system of scale, with autonomy and eVTOL elements, with lengthy vary into one answer. Truly, there are very, only a few gamers placing all these benefits collectively. If something, the market can use extra of them.”
With this grant and the next demonstrations, it seems like MightyFly is effectively on the best way to being amongst these only a few.
Invoice Johnson is the Founding father of Single Seat Consulting LLC offering corporations working within the DoD R&D and Superior Air Mobility market with strategic, operations and enterprise alternative recommendation. He was a profession Naval Aviator, Senior Director for Northrop Grumman Mission Methods and at the moment serves because the Rising Aviation Know-how Advisor to Girls and Drones. He graduated with a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the US Naval Academy, and MBA from Florida Institute of Know-how and an MA in Nationwide Safety and Strategic Research from the US Naval Battle Faculty.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the business drone house and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, Electronic mail Miriam.
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