MightyFly's new Cento drone is set to revolutionize the world of long-haul cargo delivery with its impressive capabilities. This autonomous cargo drone can carry up to 45kg for almost 1,000km, making it an efficient and reliable option for transporting goods over long distances.

The Cento drone boasts an internal cargo hold that can accommodate up to 96 small packages, and it requires just two parking spaces for takeoff, landing, and automatic unloading. The company is currently working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to expand its long-haul permit, paving the way for commercial cargo transportation.

Featuring a large 161kg carbon airframe when fully loaded, the Cento drone employs a simple lift-cruise design. It uses eight pod-mounted lift screws and one rear propeller for cruise flight, allowing it to travel at a top speed of 240 km/h. This makes it more efficient than traditional road haulage.

The hybrid power plant provides the Cento drone with a flight range of 965 km. While the propulsion system is electric, an internal combustion engine is used to keep the battery charged during flight, ensuring consistent performance and energy efficiency.

Measuring 4m x 5m, the Cento drone can be accommodated by anyone who can set aside a couple of parking spaces or another flat area of that size. Users won't need to open the cargo compartment themselves, as the drone is equipped with an autonomous conveyor belt for issuing and loading parcels.

Flight tests of the Cento drone have been conducted since December, with the FAA issuing a special airworthiness certificate to MightyFly. This allows the company to conduct flight tests but does not grant commercial cargo transportation rights at this stage. The agency has also issued a certificate granting MightyFly 596 square kilometers of airspace and an altitude ceiling of 1,500 meters for testing the drone.

MightyFly hopes to soon demonstrate a 965km delivery with a 45kg payload, which it claims is an "unprecedented feat." Although the company has not announced a possible start date for commercial deliveries with the Cento drone, it is "looking for business partnerships to test delivery operations" in the "post-2023" period. MightyFly is also working on another craft capable of carrying a 227kg payload, further expanding the potential for robot jobs in the cargo transportation industry.

As the world of autonomous cargo drones continues to grow, the potential for hiring robots for efficient cargo transportation becomes increasingly promising. Stay tuned for more exciting developments in the world of robot workers and their impact on the logistics sector.