Rotor Technologies is Bringing the Two Largest Commercial Drones to Market

Rotor Technologies, Inc. has announced the launch of the world’s two largest commercial drones. The startup, which is based in New Hampshire, was founded by a team of MIT aerospace engineers to develop and manufacture the most capable commercial UAVs possible.

The new drones, named Airtruck and Sparyhawk, have been based on the Robinson R44 helicopter airframe – which is a four-seat light helicopter commercialized in 1992. The drone design, however, has adapted the R44 frame to support lifting cargo and spraying crops, all while remotely operated.

Airtruck is a general utility drone able to move up to 1,000 lb (453 kg) of cargo, while Sprayhawk has been conceived as an agricultural UAV, carrying a 110-gallon tank for crop dusting.

Rotor Technologies, which is collaborating with helicopter manufacturer Robinson to develop the two drones, plans to build some 25 units per year of the two models (15 Sprayhawks and 10 Airtrucks) at its New Hampshire plant.

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