Guardian Agriculture, a Massachusetts-based company specializing in electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) systems for sustainable farming, pronounces that they’re the primary eVTOL manufacturer to begin industrial operations. The corporate has recently deployed 4 of its aviation-grade eVTOL aircraft for crop spraying in California’s Salinas Valley.
The eVTOLs developed by Guardian offer a more efficient, sustainable, and protected alternative to traditional crop-dusting methods or ground-based equipment. These systems are fully programmable, repeatable, and simple to operate, able to covering as much as 60 acres per hour, carrying a 200lb payload, and boasting a combined tank fill and supercharge time of lower than 1 minute.
Guardian is making its mark in a world industrial agriculture sector valued at $65 billion annually. “This can be a significant milestone for sustainable farming and a significant advancement for eVTOL technology,” stated Adam Bercu, Founder and CEO of Guardian. He added, “We’re the one company that has secured FAA approval for industrial operations nationwide and has actually began flying missions for paying customers.”
In March 2023, Guardian received approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate its aircraft nationwide, becoming the primary commercially authorized eVTOL within the U.S. Guardian can also be a part of the FAA’s Integration Partnership Agreement, which provides advice on incorporating eVTOLs into the National Airspace System.
Guardian’s eVTOL platform, which has already received greater than $100 million in customer orders, is the one autonomous, electric, aerial crop protection system designed specifically for large-scale agriculture. Unlike other unmanned autonomous systems, Guardian designs and manufactures its system entirely throughout the U.S., supporting U.S. competitiveness, jobs, and national security.
Established in 2017, Guardian has offices in Massachusetts and California and has raised over $20 million in funding. The leadership team comprises engineering, autonomy, and manufacturing leaders who’ve previously held senior positions at firms like Apple, BAE, Sikorsky, Righthand Robotics, Tesla, and Uber.
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