DARPA launches Lift Challenge seeking drone capable of carrying 4x its own weight

Published Jul 30, 01:45 PM UTC

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will launch its inaugural Lift Challenge next week, a competition designed to push the limits of heavy-lift drone technology. The challenge seeks a drone capable of lifting and transporting a payload four times its own weight, aiming to revolutionize heavy vertical-lift aviation. DARPA will award $6.5 million in prizes. The competition aligns with the Defense Department's Drone Dominance initiative and has attracted over 100 participants, including drone manufacturers, engineers, academics, and hobbyists. Competitors must build a drone under 55 pounds that can carry a 110-pound payload over a 1,000-foot course 30 times in under 30 minutes. The event runs from Aug. 2 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Ohio, with the final four days open to the public and livestreamed on YouTube.