The DARPA Lift Challenge concluded Aug. 9 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force after teams demonstrated new approaches to vertical heavy-lift unmanned aircraft. The DARPA Lift Challenge results included a top scored payload-to-weight ratio of 3.84:1 from AVIDrone, while another aircraft achieved a 9.63:1 ratio but did not complete a scored run.
The competition sought drone designs capable of carrying payloads more than four times their own weight, with DARPA planning additional support to mature promising technologies for potential national security and commercial applications.
DARPA Lift Challenge Results Push Heavy-Lift UAS Performance
AVIDrone, Inc. took first place in the objective Payload-to-Weight Performance Award with a ratio of 3.84:1.
Although the aircraft did not reach DARPA’s 4:1 challenge goal, program manager Phillip “Donna” Smith said the competition demonstrated a path toward achieving the target.
“We chose the target because we believed it might be possible and what we proved this week,” said Smith. “Even though we didn’t hit it in an official score, we saw the path at this competition.”
The top three objective category results were:
- 1st – AVIDrone, Inc., Columbia, Maryland: 3.84:1 payload-to-weight ratio; $1.25 million prize
- 2nd – MTech Operations, LLC, Sudbury, Massachusetts: 3.64:1 ratio; $750,000 prize
- 3rd – Xtreme Aerial Concepts, San Jose, California: 3.45:1 ratio; $500,000 prize
Under the challenge rules, teams meeting or exceeding the 4:1 goal would receive the full prize amount for their award level. Teams finishing below the target received half of the applicable prize purse.
New UAS Designs Receive Technology Awards
DARPA also recognized three teams in subjective categories selected by a panel of DARPA program managers with aviation expertise.
The University of Maryland Autonomous Micro Air Vehicle Team received the $500,000 Most Revolutionary Aerodynamic Design award.
The team’s aircraft combined a tri-rotor configuration with a propeller-driven rotor. Servos changed blade and motor angles, allowing the aircraft to take off and land as a multi-rotor before transitioning to a propeller-driven rotor in flight.
Portal Aircraft Company received the $500,000 Most Revolutionary Powertrain Design award. Its aircraft uses hot or cold turbine exhaust to drive the rotors instead of driveshafts and mechanical linkages. According to DARPA, the approach could improve reliability by reducing the number of mechanical components.
DefendTex Aircraft Achieves 9.63:1 Ratio
DefendTex received the $500,000 Most Promising Technology award.
Although its aircraft did not complete a scored competition run, DARPA said the platform achieved the highest payload-to-weight ratio demonstrated during the competition at 9.63:1.
The aircraft uses string-based supports for individual motors to reduce hub structure and overall vehicle weight. DARPA described the design as simple and easy to deploy while minimizing disk loading on each propeller.
DARPA Plans Continued Investment in Lift Challenge Technologies
DARPA said it plans to support further development of promising technologies demonstrated during the competition through multiple Small Business Innovation Research topics.
The agency will also connect teams with investors through its Commercial Strategy Office.
According to DARPA, these efforts are intended to mature technologies from the competition and explore potential transitions into national security and commercial applications.
“We’re just seeing the very beginning of the transformation that this community is going to bring to the aerospace industry,” said DARPA Director Stephen Winchell during the Aug. 9 awards ceremony. “Every single team here, you are DARPA.”
Hundreds of Teams Enter DARPA Lift Challenge
The competition attracted applications from small businesses, entrepreneurs, universities and high schools.
DARPA reported:
- 489 total applicants
- 225 teams completing key technical and regulatory requirements
- 132 teams invited to compete
- 76 teams checking in
- 62 teams clearing safety checks
- 24 flight windows
- 70 official competition runs
- Nine scored runs completed by five teams
The final four days were open to the public, with thousands of aviation enthusiasts, industry representatives and families attending the event. Winning teams are also coordinating with the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force to display their aircraft in a Lift Challenge exhibit.
Heavy-Lift Drone Designs Target 4:1 Payload Ratio
According to DARPA, current multirotor unmanned aircraft typically have payload-to-weight ratios of approximately 1:1 or less.
The Lift Challenge was created to explore new aircraft designs capable of carrying payloads exceeding four times the aircraft’s own weight.
“The true value of this Challenge isn’t measured in dollars; it’s measured in the ideas that became prototypes, the prototypes that became aircraft, and the boundaries that you pushed every time you took to the flightline,” Smith told participating teams. “This competition was the catalyst, but the innovation it sparked is now yours to unleash.”
The DARPA Lift Challenge results demonstrated multiple approaches to heavy-lift UAS design while providing a development path for technologies that DARPA intends to support toward potential military and civilian applications.
Source: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
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