Workhorse Group Inc. says it has filed a Section 333 exemption with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to commercially deliver packages using its proprietary Horsefly octocopter, which flies to and from a standard delivery vehicle.
Workhorse Aerospace is teaming up with the University of Cincinnati to develop all necessary systems to execute precision takeoffs and landings on the top of a standard delivery truck in a variety of weather conditions.
Workhorse will be demonstrating the Horsefly at the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif., during the upcoming NASA Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Traffic Management Convention.
Martin Rucidlo, president of Workhorse, says, “The Horsefly is unique, not only because we are seeking to be the first UAS to make deliveries from a truck that is constantly moving to a different location, but because it also takes advantage of the proprietary battery and system technology that Workhorse has developed in-house for our [Environmental Protection Agency]-approved electric work trucks.”
Workhorse Group Inc. is the parent company of AMP Electric Vehicles Inc. and AMP Trucks Inc. AMP Electric Vehicles manufactures electric-drive systems for medium-duty, Class 3-6, commercial truck platforms.
When mated to the Workhorse electric truck, the Horsefly can quickly recharge from the vehicle's battery.
“Since our inception, we have focused on providing more energy-efficient transportation systems,” says Steve Burns, Workhorse CEO. “The combination of the Horsefly and the Workhorse [electric vehicle] represents a significant improvement in reducing emissions and improving the efficiency of the delivery process.’
