Tactical Robotics is expanding the flight testing of its Cormorant drone, the Urban Aeronautics subsidiary announced Monday.
The company has been expanding the flight envelope of the drone, formerly known as AirMule, during ongoing, untethered flight testing this summer, Tactical Robotics said in a statement.
The testing also involved gauging modifications that enhance the flight control and multiple sensor suite.
Safety and reliability are also being increased via implementation of full redundancy of all critical functions, the company said.
Fully autonomous navigation, as well as automated takeoff and landing, became standard on all flights this month.
Upcoming tests will include gradual and careful increase of airspeed, as well as full pattern flights over adjacent fields.
Cormorant is designed for both military and civil applications.
Its primary military missions include cargo delivery, casualty evacuation, maritime missions and humanitarian relief.
On the civil side, the drone can undertake emergency response and commercial applications, including parcel delivery.
Cormorant will be able to carry payloads of up to 1,100 pounds over distances that stretch more than 30 miles.
