● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact2 neutral
Joby Aviation Completes 3,100-Mile Autonomous Flight Across US
Key points
- Joby Aviation's autonomous aircraft flew over 3,100 miles across the US.
- The flight included autonomous taxiing, takeoffs, navigation, and landings.
- The technology is intended for defense, medical transport, and disaster response.
- Joby is expanding beyond eVTOL air taxis into military and freight sectors.
- The autonomous flight covered 3,199 miles.
- The flight started at Buchanan Field Airport in California.
- The flight finished at Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina.
- Joby integrated its autonomy tech into a converted Cessna Caravan.
- A human monitor was onboard the aircraft during the flight.
- Joby remotely supervised the aircraft from its headquarters in California and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.
- The autonomous aircraft will travel westward, stopping in Raleigh, Salt Lake City, and Portland.
Autonomous Cross-Country Flight
Joby Aviation announced that an aircraft equipped with its autonomy technology completed a 3,100-mile flight across the United States without human pilot control. The aircraft performed autonomous taxiing, takeoffs, navigation, and landings. Remote supervision was provided from Joby's headquarters in California and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, with a pilot on board for compliance purposes only.
Expanding Beyond Air Taxis
This flight demonstrates Joby's autonomy capabilities and its strategic shift beyond electric air taxis. While Joby is known for developing eVTOL aircraft for urban air taxi services, this autonomous flight showcases the technology's potential for diverse applications, including medical transport, disaster response, and defense logistics. The aircraft will continue its journey back to the West Coast with stops in cities like Louisville, Kentucky, and Salt Lake City.
Focus on Defense and Freight
Joby's autonomy stack, designed for retrofitting onto conventional aircraft, is central to its strategy to enter the defense sector. The company plans to introduce a regional airframe with this autonomy stack for defense missions and commercial freight transport. This initiative is supported by a $17 million Air Force contract with AFWERX. Joby further solidified its defense presence by acquiring Resonant Sciences for $500 million, integrating its radio frequency and sensor systems into a dedicated defense business unit.
Updates
- The autonomous flight covered 3,199 miles.
- The flight started at Buchanan Field Airport in California.
- The flight finished at Dare County Regional Airport in North Carolina.
- Joby integrated its autonomy tech into a converted Cessna Caravan.
- A human monitor was onboard the aircraft during the flight.
- Joby remotely supervised the aircraft from its headquarters in California and Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.
- The autonomous aircraft will travel westward, stopping in Raleigh, Salt Lake City, and Portland.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Joby Aviation completed a 3,199-mile autonomous flight from California to North Carolina using a Cessna Caravan equipped with its autonomous flight system. This achievement demonstrates the potential for Joby's autonomy technology to be applied beyond its electric air taxi services, opening possibilities for commercial freight, emergency response, and defense logistics.
Joby Aviation completed a 3,100-mile autonomous flight across the United States using a modified Cessna Caravan, demonstrating its autonomy technology for various missions beyond air taxis. This signals Joby's expansion into defense and commercial freight, supported by a $17 million Air Force contract and the acquisition of Resonant Sciences.