Pyka raises $40M for autonomous electrical plane

Pyka raises M for autonomous electrical plane
Pyka raises M for autonomous electrical plane


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Pyka’s Pelican Spray know-how combines spray precision and chemical drift discount applied sciences to supply crop safety at scale. | Supply: Pyka

Pyka, a developer of electrical aviation know-how, raised $40 million in Collection B funding. Pyka is commercializing autonomous electrical plane for a wide range of functions, together with agricultural crop safety, business cargo transportation, and protection logistics. 

The Alameda, Calif.-based company mentioned it at present produces a big, commercially-approved uncrewed plane system (UAS) in the US and maintains lively business operations in Central America and Brazil.

“With business manufacturing effectively underway, and our plane deployed with prospects on a number of continents, we’re extraordinarily happy with the progress we’ve made as an organization up to now,” Michael Norcia, co-founder and CEO at Pyka, mentioned. “This spherical of funding brings us one step nearer to unlocking autonomous electrical flight for society.”

Pyka mentioned its portfolio of shoppers contains gamers within the agriculture, business cargo, and protection logistics worth chains, equivalent to Dole, Embraer, Sierra Nevada Firm, Heinen Brothers Agra Providers, and Skyports Drone Providers. In early 2024, the corporate delivered three plane to the US Air Pressure as a part of the Agility Prime program.

Apparent Ventures led the funding spherical. New and present traders within the spherical embody Piva Capital, Prelude Ventures, Metaplanet Holdings, and Y Combinator. 

Pyka plans to leverage funding for development throughout merchandise

Pyka mentioned the brand new funding will speed up its development throughout its dual-use product line. On the business aspect, it’s going to help additional Pyka’s home manufacturing capabilities, enhance manufacturing of its Pelican Spray and Pelican Cargo merchandise, and allow expanded operations with each U.S. and worldwide prospects.

Moreover, the Collection B funds will advance the event of latest capabilities to help contested logistics operations for the U.S. Division of Protection and allied companions.

Pyka’s household of merchandise contains Pelican Spray, a 1,320 lb (598.7 kg), absolutely autonomous and 100% electrical plane designed for complicated agricultural operations. The plane combines spray precision and chemical drift discount applied sciences to supply crop safety at scale.

Moreover, Pyka produces Pelican Cargo, an autonomous electrical cargo plane able to long-range and off-airport operations. The 100% electrical plane can transport as much as 400 lbs (181.4 kg) over a spread of 200 miles (321.9 km). Pyka has partnered with Sierra Nevada Firm to introduce RUMRUNNER, a modified version of Pelican Cargo, to prospects throughout the U.S. Division of Protection for sustainment in contested logistics operations.

All of Pyka’s merchandise incorporate its proprietary autonomous flight engine and all-electric propulsion system to allow operations on this planet’s most complicated environments with out placing human operators in hurt’s means, at unprecedented value financial savings to prospects.

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