Lodd Autonomous, an AI-powered logistics company and drone maker based in Abu Dhabi, plans to start deploying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for parcel and cargo delivery by the second half of next year. The company’s CEO claims that its services will be “fraction of the cost.”
Lodd Autonomous CEO Rashid Matar Al Manai stated in an interview with Khaleej Times that a test flight is planned for November and that entire UAV testing should be finished by the second quarter of 2026.
At 180 kmph, Lodd’s flagship UAV, Hili, can transport up to 250 kg across a 300 km range. Al Manai did not disclose the pricing of the drone, but he did say: “We are open to selling it or leasing it, whatever makes sense and depending on the buyer demand.” It resembles the business model of an airline.
Among the many uses for the Hili drone are cargo companies, offshore deliveries by oil and gas corporations, and humanitarian relief efforts during natural disasters. “The UAVs can also operate autonomously across borders without limitations,” Al Manai remarked.
The Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC) and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) are supporting Lodd’s development of autonomous drones for package delivery.
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