Australian OEM Gears Up for Advanced Subscale Testing
- LIESL HARIS
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Australian drone firm Gap Drone is making significant strides as it nears completion of a demonstration model for its groundbreaking “Atlas” freight drone, as highlighted in a recent Australian Aviation article. The company is set to begin testing its navigation and propulsion systems on the "Baby Atlas" demonstrator, a one-third scale, fully-functional model, in the coming weeks.
According to Gap Drone CEO Liesl Haris, this "Baby Atlas" is far from a mere scaled-down version. "There is nothing sub-scale about the technologies that we are demonstrating in our ‘Baby Atlas’ model," Haris stated. "This model is a powerhouse in its own right, featuring all the avionics and technology which will be replicated exactly in our full-size Atlas.”
The four-meter-long Autonomous Transport Logistics Air System UAV is slated for commercial launch in 2026. Once fully operational, Gap Drone's UAV systems will boast impressive capabilities: carrying payloads of 60 to 90kg at speeds of 120km/h, with a maximum range of 1,100km, all while achieving remarkable fuel consumption of 21km per litre.
Gap Drone has fostered key partnerships, including collaborations with Swinburne University’s Aerostructures Innovation Research (AIR) Hub, NOVA Systems, and the federal government’s iMOVE CRC. These collaborations are crucial to their goal of completing a full-sized prototype by mid-next year.
Haris emphasised the transformative potential of the Atlas, noting, "Gap Drone’s superior payload capacity and range mean regional hubs – both here and abroad – could soon see unprecedented connectivity for post, produce, and resources, in both directions." She added that the Atlas will offer a faster, cheaper, and more energy-efficient alternative to traditional transport, effectively bridging the supply chain gap between major cities and remote communities. Furthermore, Gap Drone is committed to creating vital STEM career opportunities for Indigenous Australians through partnerships with First Nations communities.
This aligns with broader industry trends, as Airservices Australia recently predicted 60 million drone flights per year by 2043, with transport and logistics accounting for 77 per cent of this increase. Companies like Wing are already demonstrating the viability of drone deliveries, with thousands of food and goods deliveries made annually. Gap Drone is poised to address the "gap in the long-range, low-emission, heavy-payload UAV market," ushering in a new era of logistics.
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