SuperPilot autonomous stack
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VTOL Air Taxi With Military Applications Flies On Hybrid Power For First Time
ZeroHedge· 2025-11-22 20:45
Core Insights - Joby Aviation has successfully completed the first flight of its long-range VTOL air taxi using a turbine-electric engine, enhancing range and payload capacity through its hybrid turbine powertrain and proprietary autonomy software [1][2] Group 1: Aircraft Development - The aircraft features a hybrid design that allows for deployment from forward locations without the need for runway infrastructure, developed in partnership with L3Harris Technology [2] - Joby Aviation's SuperPilot autonomous stack is designed to extend the aircraft's range while increasing its payload capacity [1] Group 2: Military Applications - The partnership with L3Harris aims to tailor the aircraft for government missions, focusing on contested logistics, low-altitude support, and loyal wingman tasks [3] - The U.S. government has requested over $9 billion in the fiscal 2026 budget for next-generation platforms, aligning with the development of resilient, autonomous, and hybrid aircraft [3] Group 3: Technological Capabilities - The aircraft incorporates real-time sensor fusion (radar, LiDAR, vision) and autonomous mission management, allowing for planning and adapting to changes such as weather and air traffic [4] - It demonstrates long-range autonomy with flights over thousands of miles and includes health monitoring and resilience features like predictive system health modeling [4]