Melbourne-based Freespace Operations introduced the profitable growth of “Cooperative Carry” know-how that permits a number of Callisto 50 heavy-lift drones to coordinate flight operations whereas carrying shared hundreds as much as 100 kilograms. The system represents a fourfold improve in lifting capability in comparison with particular person plane operations.
The event addresses technical challenges which have restricted earlier makes an attempt at coordinated drone lifting operations. The know-how has secured the corporate a multimillion-dollar contract with a global protection buyer within the Asia-Pacific area.
Technical Achievement
“While we’re used to seeing drones fly in patterns for mild reveals, getting them to bodily work collectively to hold weight is a totally completely different problem, that we name Cooperative Carry. Universities and main drone producers worldwide have tried for years to unravel Cooperative Carry with restricted success,” mentioned Freespace Operations Co-founder Ken King.
The Cooperative Carry system permits drone formations to keep up coordinated flight whereas managing dynamic hundreds beneath various environmental situations. In keeping with the corporate, the know-how permits operations in missions beforehand restricted to helicopters or specialised giant plane platforms.
“Our breakthrough proves it may be carried out safely, reliably, and at scale. We will now multiply the lifting energy of a single drone as much as 4 instances whereas retaining all the pliability of smaller, modular methods,” King mentioned. “This growth will considerably improve the vary of duties that may be assigned to drones in quite a lot of heavy business and defence purposes. Whether or not it’s carrying provides to a shifting ship, mineral exploration, mining logistics, stringing new energy strains, or delivering life-saving provides in an emergency state of affairs, this breakthrough will imply our prospects can get extra carried out with their drone fleets than ever earlier than.”
Firm Background and Present Capabilities
Based in Melbourne in 2019, Freespace Operations has accomplished 29 Australian Authorities and Defence contracts price greater than A$9 million. The corporate has additionally executed enterprise tasks with vitality infrastructure corporations together with Infravision and Enerven.
The Cooperative Carry growth builds on Freespace’s Ship Ops know-how, which was demonstrated at Train Talisman Sabre 2025. In the course of the train, Callisto 50 drones carried out ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore logistics operations, validating the platform’s efficiency in maritime environments.
Callisto 50 Platform Integration
The Cooperative Carry system operates on the corporate’s Callisto 50 heavy-lift drone platform, which mixes {hardware} methods with management software program developed by Co-founder and CTO Leonard Corridor. The Australian-designed and manufactured platform serves protection, infrastructure, mining, and vitality sector purposes.
“Cooperative Carry was an extremely troublesome technological problem, each from a {hardware} and software program perspective. As a result of the Callisto 50 is already one of the crucial succesful and dependable platforms in its class, we have been capable of unlock Cooperative Carry by constructing on a confirmed system that we knew was able to being scaled on this method,” Corridor mentioned.
Engineering Challenges
Corridor described the complexity of coordinating a number of plane whereas managing shared hundreds. “It may appear intuitive at first, however accounting for all of the completely different variables of flight throughout two or extra drones isn’t any small feat. The motion of the burden, and naturally the wind and climate, make it one of the crucial troublesome challenges in drone flight.”
“We’re immensely proud to deliver this functionality on-line, a world first in our business,” Corridor concluded.
Extra data is obtainable from Freespace’s web site.
About Freespace Operations:
Freespace Operations is an Australian-owned and operated firm who design and manufacture world main heavy elevate multirotor drone methods for the Defence, Enterprise and Public Security sectors. Fully self-funded and worthwhile from inception in 2019, the corporate has supplied logistical drone options for presidency and industrial prospects all over the world and has a mission to pioneer superior drone methods that scale back price and danger to human pilots.
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Ian McNabb is a journalist specializing in drone know-how and life-style content material at Dronelife. He’s based mostly between Boston and NH and, when not writing, enjoys climbing and Boston space sports activities.