Press Release: ANAC Permits Commercial Operations of Sprayhawk UAV in Brazil

Big drones for tough jobs

Rotor's unmanned helicopters deliver more payload and mission capability than any other commercial UAV.

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Meet the Rotor family

Rotor’s heavy-lift UAVs serve agriculture, construction, aerial work, and special missions.

R550

Airtruck

Heavy-lift UAV platform

From $375,000

As a retrofit conversion for Robinson R44 helicopters

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r550

Sprayhawk

Automated agricultural spraying machine

From $525,000

As a retrofit conversion for Robinson R44 helicopters

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Helicopter performance meets unmanned versatility

Rotor combines full-scale helicopter performance with the safety, ease-of-operation, and operating economics of a UAV.

Heavy-duty lifting

Rotor's unmanned helicopters have more internal cabin volume and can carry more payload than any other commercially-available UAV.

Easy to deploy

Rotor's UAVs can be transported on-road without disassembly and can be set up in less than 15 minutes, enabling quick and easy deployment to anywhere in the world.

Safe by design

Autonomy enables safe operation at night and in unpredictable conditions, so you don’t need to choose between crew safety and getting the job done.

User-friendly operation

Opting for unmanned means air operations can be conducted by remote pilots and ground crew only, with no commercial pilot's license or onboard crewmembers needed.

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the future of flight iS HERE

"As an R44 owner, I'm delighted by what Rotor is doing with that platform. Their technology is going to make the helicopter industry safer."

Jim Viola

President and CEO, Vertical Aviation International

“I think what Rotor is doing is right in line with how Robinson looks at the future. Collaborating with these folks is probably one of the best ways to drive the industry forward.”

David Smith

CEO, Robinson Helicopter Company

“Rotor Technologies’ approach to retrofitting existing helicopter fleets with autonomous systems epitomizes the industry's adaptability.”

Jessica Reed

Aviation International News

"[Rotor] is what we want to do here [in New Hampshire] and it's what we want to embody. You guys are able to do things that a lot of folks just a few years ago said could not happen."

Chris Sununu

Governor of New Hampshire

"Rotor has successfully pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in vertical flight. They're not just enhancing efficiency but also redefining safety and precision standards. The work Rotor is doing will drive our industry into the future."

Angelo Collins

Executive Director, Vertical Flight Society

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Find the right unmanned helicopter for your mission

R550 Airtruck

Heavy Lift UAV Platform

R550 Sprayhawk

Automated Agricultural Spraying Machine

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Example applications

Energy and Utility
Construction
Firefighting
Agricultural Work
Disaster Response
Unmanned Payload Testing

Row Crop Spraying
Seed And Fertilizer Spreading

Max Gross Weight

2,500 lb (1,134 kg)

Useful Load

1,102 lb (500 kg)

110 Gal (416 L)

Fuel Capacity

12.5 Gal (47.3 L)

Endurance

50 min

Operating Range

> 50 mi (80 km)
BVLOS capable, subject to regulatory restrictions

Max Operating Altitude

3,000 ft (1,000 m) AGL
14,000 ft (4,300 m) MSL

Flight Control System

Full Authority Fly-by-wire

Sensors

1x Forward Camera
2x Side Cameras
1x Downward Camera
1x Radar Altimeter

1x Forward Camera
2x Side Cameras
1x Downward Camera
1x Tail Camera
1x Terrain Following LIDAR
1x Radar Altimeter

Communications

1x 2.4 GHz LOS Radio
2x LTE
1x Starlink Mini

Available Autopilot Modes

Stability Augmented (Always-on)
Attitude Control Velocity Hold (ACVH)
Waypoint Following

Stability Augmented (Always-on)
Attitude Control Velocity Hold (ACVH)
Waypoint Following
Terrain Following

Autonomy Functionality

Emergency Return-to-home

Automated Spray Pattern Following
Emergency Return-to-home

Recommended Crew

1x Remote Pilot
1x Visual Observer

1x Remote Pilot
1x Visual Observer
1x Spray Loader

Regulatory Approval
‍

Experimental Certificate in the U.S.
Commercial approval in Brazil and other countries

Export License
‍(Outside US)

Not Required

Not Required For Australia, Canada, UK

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FAQs

Can you convert my Robinson R44 into an R550?

Yes, the R550 is offered as a retrofit conversion for all models of Robinson R44. Factory conversions are available now at Rotor's facilities in Nashua, NH and Rotor is working with service centers to perform retrofit conversions around the world beginning in 2025.

For more information how to convert your R44 or to become a service center, please contact us.

Can you convert my airplane into a UAV?

Rotor's unmanned and autonomous flight technology extends beyond rotorcraft and VTOLs. Please contact us to discuss program feasibility.

Can you convert my helicopter into a UAV if it's not a Robinson?

Rotor's technology and partnerships extend beyond Robinson helicopters. If you are an OEM or fleet operator interested in unmanned aircraft conversions of other aircraft types, please contact us to discuss program feasibility.

Can I use the R550 to carry people?

Rotor's UAVs are heavy lift drones designed for utility missions like agriculture and firefighting. They are not certified to carry people.

What licenses do I need to fly the R550?

At present, a commercial helicopter license is required to operate the R550, in addition to completing Rotor's factory training course. Rotor is working with regulatory authorities worldwide to enable Remote Pilots in Command (RPIC) to operate the aircraft by holding only a Part 107 remote pilot license.

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What is your relationship with Robinson?

Rotor is an independent company from Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC). However, we collaborate closely with RHC on engineering, certification, and supply chain. You can read more about this here.

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