Swiss company ANAVIA has unveiled an unmanned helicopter that they claim as “the most advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system in the world.” “An unmanned helicopter for up to 65 kg of payload and 240 minutes of flight time. It’s the new benchmark in safety, performance and ease of operation,” says the company announcement.
ANAVIA joins the drone industry from a manufacturing heritage. The company was established in 2019 as a subsidiary of the CONNOVA Group, a global developer and manufacturer ofcarbon composite products, for aerospace and motor racing sector. The HT-100 unmanned helicopter is ANAVIA’s first product for the drone industry: a vertical take off and landing (VTOL) system big enough to provide a heavy payload (65 kg, or approx. 140 pounds) and a long flight endurance. ANAVIA says they are targeting the HT-100 to customers in surveying, surveillance, logistics, defense, and more.
The ANAVIA is designed for safety, with multiple redundancies including a backup motor. The 240 minute flight time and heavy payload capacity put the HT-100 unmanned helicopter in a different category than many delivery drones: but the company points out that the HT-100 is a cost-effective alternative to manned helicopter flights. “The low flight and maintenance costs and high compatibility with the most common sensor and payload systems for a wide range of uses make the HT-100 an economical alternative to conventional helicopters,” says the announcement.
The HT-100 has been certified by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation. ANAVIA is offering a full service solution with the aircraft: training, system maintenance, servicing, inspections, repairs and customer service. As demand for drone delivery solutions as well as long-range surveillance and inspection applications increases, ANAVIA’s unmanned helicopter concept could provide a compelling option for advanced applications currently handled by manned aircraft.
“With the HT-100, ANAVIA is entering the growing UAV market at exactly the right moment,” says the announcement.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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