Rotor launches R550X unmanned helicopter with a range of 3 hours and a top speed of 150mph

CTOnews.com, December 7 (Xinhua)-- Rotor, maker of automatic vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, has launched a R550X unmanned helicopter, which claims to be the largest "drone" on the market, which is already in production for crop spraying.

CTOnews.com learned that the R550X is an unmanned helicopter based on the Robinson R44 Raven II platform. Although it can carry security personnel, it is ultimately designed for self-driving.

The R550X, which can lift 1200 pounds of weight, has a flight time of more than three hours and a top speed of 150mph, claims to provide remote operations beyond the reach of conventional drones and eVTOL, making it more suitable for "demanding freight, utility and maritime operations".

The R550X is said to be equipped with "advanced sensors and digital flight control systems" to operate safely and autonomously at night and in limited visibility, as well as built-in flight control systems to prevent unmanned helicopters from entering a vortex ring and common helicopter accidents such as collisions, runaway and controlled flight collisions (CFIT).