Pyka, an autonomous aircraft company has announced distribution agreement with Heinen Brothers Agra Services, a Kansas based private aerial application service provider and its subsidiary, Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems. As part of the agreement Heinen Brothers Agra Services and Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems will dispatch and market orders of Pyka’s Pelican 2 autonomous fixed wing agricultural aircraft.
The autonomous aircraft is designed for high precision aerial spraying of crops without an onboard pilot, equipped with a 80 gallons (302 liters) payload capacity, enabling it to cover up to 222 acres (90 hectares) per hour, and a four motor electric propulsion system with hot swappable batteries. The LIDAR and RADAR systems allow Pelican 2 to operate autonomously during both day and night. It is the the largest uncrewed aerial system (UAS) authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for commercial use.
Pelican 2 to Boost Farm Productivity
The partnership agreement was unveiled at the Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems Field Day in Seneca, Kansas. Along with leaders from both Pyka and Heinen Brothers Agra Services, the event was also attended by agricultural experts, state officials, and industry leaders. Deliveries of the first Pelican 2 aircraft to customers of Heinen Brothers and Kelly Hills is expected soon. The collaboration can potentially accelerate adoption of autonomous electric aviation technologies, thereby enhancing farm productivity sustainably.
We’re excited to partner with Pyka to bring this aircraft to US growers. With its payload capacity, autonomy, and proven reliability in the field, Pelican 2 is the type of innovation farmers need to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow
Volker Fabian, Chief Commercial Officer of Pyka has stated that partnering with Heinen Brothers and Kelly Hills is a major milestone for Pyka. To enable US farmers operate more efficiently, sustainably, and profitably, Pyka benefits from their new partner’s decades of experience, strong safety record, and commitment to deliver innovative agricultural aviation solutions.
The FAA approval for the Pelican 2 is Pyka’s second major commercial authorization for its unmanned aerial systems. The first UAS from Pyka to receive FAA approval for commercial operation was the Pelican spray aircraft, launched in 2023. The aircraft boasts 18 meter swath wide for multiple spray boom configurations, along with hydraulic nozzles and Pyka’s proprietary electric rotary atomizers, ensuring optimal spray coverage. A key component of Pyka Pelican 2 is its dynamic droplet size adjustment, which optimizes chemical use while minimizing drift, enchaining the effectiveness of crop protection while reducing waste.
Embracing Smart Aerial Solutions
Pyka, a robotics company aims to build to build the most useful autonomous aircraft for use in crop protection and cargo transport. Pyka’s in house designed and manufactured, vertically integrated aircraft first robotics stack, features proprietary flight control software, avionics, high power density electric motors, motor controllers, batteries, and carbon fiber composite airframes. Previously, Pyka reached an agreement with SLC Agrícola, one of Brazil’s largest agricultural producers, to supply Pelican aircraft for large scale agricultural operations. They also partnered with Dole in Honduras, using its original Pelican aircraft to enhance efficiency and precision in banana crop protection.
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Heinen Brothers and its subsidiary Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems, offer a variety of aviation services, specializing in timely aerial application services to maximize crop yields and profits. Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems was instituted in 2024 to bring advanced Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and autonomous ground vehicles, integrating leading edge technology to improve precision, efficiency, and safety in the agricultural sector.
The collaboration aims to help US farmers improve efficiency, reduce costs, and adopt more sustainable farming practices. As one of North America’s largest aerial application providers, Heinen Brothers can leverage the efficiency of Pyka’s Pelican 2 to meet the needs of modern agriculture.
