Oakland-based startup Pyka has achieved a significant milestone as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted approval for the commercial use of the largest electric drone it has ever certified - the Pelican Spray. This Cub-sized crop-dusting drone, already operational in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Brazil for spraying bananas, cotton, soy, and corn, is now set to expand its business to U.S. agriculture.
The Pelican Spray boasts impressive capabilities, weighing 1,125 pounds and carrying 540 pounds of liquid. With a quick 15-minute tank-emptying process, the batteries are swiftly swapped out while the drone is grounded for refueling. The aircraft is equipped with three motors, strategically placed on each wing and the tail.
Pyka doesn't plan to stop with the Pelican Spray. The company is simultaneously developing a cargo drone with a capacity of about 70 cubic feet, currently under FAA assessment for commercial use. This move is part of Pyka's broader vision to build trust in the technology as they pave the way for even more ambitious projects, including passenger-carrying drones in the future, as reported by Bloomberg.
