AIR, a manufacturer and developer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), recently announced a strategic partnership with Elmo Motion Control, a motion control company. Elmo will integrate its motion control solution into AIR’s Heavy Lift UAS, a VTOL-capable uncrewed cargo aircraft with payloads up to 550 pounds.
The partnership brings together Elmo's compact, high-power density servo drives and AIR’s next-generation electric aviation design to maximize aircraft efficiency and mission performance. Elmo’s Gold HV motor drive will power AIR's eight electric propulsion motors, delivering precise, responsive control.
As part of the integration, the drive system will enable air-cooled operation, eliminating the need for complex liquid cooling systems. By removing this component, the platform benefits from reduced weight, lower system complexity and increased payload capacity.
AIR’s unmanned cargo aircraft has a 1-hour flight endurance and is categorized as a Group 4 UAS by the U.S. Department of Defense. Through its dual-use architecture, it can service multiple industry needs, including flexible logistics, mid-mile delivery, maritime resupply and rapid aid deployments.
More than 25 units of AIR’s Cargo-Heavy Lift UAS have been ordered to date, according to the company.
Elmo's Gold and Platinum HV servo drives deliver power density through a master-slave configuration, supplying 210A at 805V to each motor while maintaining an air-cooled design that eliminates the need for heavier liquid-cooling systems.Elmo Motion Control
