FutureFlight
Pyka Raises $37 Million To Produce Autonomous Pelican Crop Sprayer
The company says its autonomous crop-spraying aircraft can operate at one-fifth of the cost of piloted aircraft used in the agricultural sector.
Pyka's Pelican autonomous crop-spraying aircraft can operate from a 450-feet landing strip.
Pyka says its Pelican autonomous crop-spraying aircraft can operate at around one-fifth of the cost of piloted aircraft. (Image: Pyka)

A just-closed $37 million Series A funding round will support efforts by California-based Pyka to start serial production of its new Pelican autonomous crop-spraying aircraft. The company says it is also stepping up the development of a cargo-carrying variant that would be able to carry a 400-pound payload on sectors of up to around 200 miles.

According to Pyka, it has already delivered three of the all-electric Pelicans to fruit producers in Latin America, and these are being operated under experimental approvals from local regulators. In an April 29 announcement, the company said that it will deliver another aircraft to an undisclosed new customer in May.