From TechCrunch · Kirsten Korosec · · 2m
Joby's 3,100-mile autonomous flight reshapes air mobility
Electric air taxi company Joby flew a plane across the US without human control, signaling a major pivot toward defense and cargo.
In brief
Electric air taxi company Joby flew a plane across the US without human control, signaling a major pivot toward defense and cargo. Joby's successful autonomous cross-country flight proves its technology works beyond urban air taxis, opening a lucrative defense and logistics business. Originally reported by TechCrunch.
Joby flies 3,100 miles with no pilot
Joby Aviation's autonomous aircraft completed a cross-country flight without human control, including taxiing, takeoff, navigation, and landing. A pilot was on board for compliance but the aircraft performed all operations autonomously.
“the first-ever autonomous flight across the United States”
Remote supervision from two locations
The aircraft was remotely supervised from Joby's California headquarters and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. The converted Cessna Caravan handled different environments and missions including medical transport, disaster response, and defense logistics.
Beyond electric air taxis
While Joby is known for developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for urban air taxi service, this flight signals the company's ambitions extend far beyond that market. The autonomy technology can be retrofitted onto conventional aircraft for broader applications.
Defense becomes a major focus
Joby has a long-standing relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense and is pushing deeper into the military sector. The company plans to bring a regional airframe equipped with its autonomy stack to market for defense missions and commercial freight transport.
Resonant Sciences acquisition signals shift
Joby acquired Ohio-based Resonant Sciences for five hundred million dollars in August to gain radio frequency and sensor systems expertise. The acquisition created a dedicated defense business within Joby including turbine-electric and hydrogen-electric aircraft development.
Partnership with L3Harris on hybrid aircraft
Joby signed an agreement with defense contractor L3Harris Technologies to develop a gas-turbine hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that can fly autonomously for defense applications. This represents another major step into the military market.
Air Force contract worth 17 million
Joby received a seventeen million dollar Air Force contract with AFWERX to support development of its regional airframe equipped with autonomy technology. The funding backs the company's push into defense logistics and commercial freight.
The key point
Joby's successful autonomous cross-country flight proves its technology works beyond urban air taxis, opening a lucrative defense and logistics business.
