has announced the successful initial tests of its next generation Sparrow drone.
The next generation Sparrow, to be commercialized as the Canary, successfully passed first tests. Flight range and cargo capacity of the Canary will be confirmed via future testing but it is expected to have a range of approximately ~20 km+ and cargo capacity of 4.5kg. Features include a new motor configuration, next generation smart battery technology, touchless cargo drop functionality, a future optional public announcement system and an optional aircraft parachute.
This new functionality is expected to unlock potential customer use-cases and facilitate future flights over people to open new, commercially addressable future markets in urban and residential areas for B2B and also B2C retail residential deliveries.
Initial tests included avionics system configuration, communications with the FLYTE management system, communications with the next generation smart battery system, propulsion system (motor spin / direction) testing, and on-board sensor testing.
“We’re pleased to be working towards the commercialization of the Canary. Its new functionality, especially the aircraft parachute, unlocks potential future use cases that are currently challenging to address – like flight over people, plus urban & residential deliveries. Being able to address these applications with our award-winning solution is on our strategic roadmap and is expected to open up potentially significant and currently underserved markets,”
said Michael Zahra, President & CEO of DDC.
The current version Sparrow continues to commercially operate successfully at current customer projects and will continue to be available to future customers. As previously announced, the Company will look to complete the Robin XL commercialization as future market demands may indicate. The long-range, heavy-lift Condor is DDC’s largest drone and is fully integrated with the Company’s patented and award-winning FLYTE software system.
Source: Press Release