AVIDrone wins DARPA Lift Challenge with electric helicopter

The DARPA Lift Challenge concluded on August 9 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, showcasing novel drone designs intended to transform vertical heavy-lift aviation for military and commercial use. AVIDrone Inc., based in Columbia, Maryland, secured first place with its Katana aircraft, a conventional single-main-rotor helicopter. The Katana achieved a payload-to-weight ratio of 3.84:1, hauling 51 kg with a weight of 13.3 kg.

While the performance was a benchmark for electric helicopter design, it fell short of the competition’s 4:1 target ratio. Due to this, the prize money was halved according to competition rules; AVIDrone received $1.25 million of the advertised $2.5 million. MTech Operations LLC took second place with a 3.64:1 ratio, earning $750,000, while Xtreme Aerial Concepts finished third with a 3.45:1 ratio, receiving $500,000.

DARPA officials noted that the technology demonstrated represents the beginning of a transformation in the aerospace industry. The agency plans to support the maturation of these drone concepts through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) topics and by connecting teams with investors via its Commercial Strategy Office.