Israeli electric aviation company AIR will integrate Elmo Motion Control’s motor-drive technology into AIR’s heavy-lift unmanned cargo aircraft, the companies announced Tuesday.
Under the strategic partnership agreement, Elmo will supply its Gold HV motor drives for AIR’s eight electric propulsion motors. The system is designed to provide precise motor control while operating with air cooling rather than a liquid-cooling system, a change the companies say will reduce weight and system complexity while increasing available payload capacity.
AIR’s cargo aircraft is a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial system capable of carrying up to 550 pounds, or about 250 kilograms. The company says the aircraft can remain airborne for about an hour and is classified as a Group 4 UAS by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The platform is intended for a range of defense and civilian logistics missions, including mid-range cargo delivery, maritime resupply and rapid humanitarian aid deployment.
“Our uncrewed cargo platform is a mission-ready system, and this new partnership enhances our aircraft’s ability to deliver performance and value while meeting operational demands,” AIR CEO Rani Plaut said.
“Working with Elmo will ensure that the future of autonomous flight and unmanned logistics are as safe as possible, while maintaining capabilities and meeting requirements across defense, commercial and humanitarian needs.”
Elmo said its drive system can supply 210 amps at 805 volts to each motor through a master-slave configuration while maintaining a compact, air-cooled design.
“Our Gold and Platinum HV servo drives deliver exceptional power density through a master-slave configuration, supplying 210A at 805V to each motor while maintaining a compact, air-cooled design that eliminates the need for heavier liquid-cooling systems,” according to Rami Chanan, vice president of sales and marketing at Elmo Motion Control.
AIR’s cargo aircraft is a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial system capable of carrying up to 550 pounds
(Photo: Courtesy AIR)
The companies say the integration helps AIR achieve a high payload-to-aircraft-size ratio, though they did not provide an independent industry comparison.
AIR said more than 25 units of its Cargo-Heavy Lift UAS have already been ordered and paid for. The company also has recently announced partnerships with other aviation suppliers, including Dynon Avionics.
AIR develops electric aircraft for both civilian and defense applications, including autonomous cargo platforms and eVTOL aircraft intended for private ownership.
Elmo Motion Control, headquartered in Israel and owned by Bosch Rexroth since 2022, develops servo drives, motion controllers and integrated motor systems for industrial, robotics and other high-performance applications.