Elsa Industry S.R.L. and Villinger GmbH today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of innovative cargo drones. The agreement aims to bring together the expertise of both companies to advance the field of autonomous aerial logistics.

Under the terms of the MoU, Elsa Industry and Villinger GmbH will work together to implement ice protection and lightning protection systems in Elsa's VTOL cargo UAV. This modular, remotely operated, and battery-electric powered drone, made of composites with folding wings, is designed for BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations. Elsa's cargo drone platform also features interchangeable powertrain options, including battery-electric, turbo-electric, and hydrogen-electric systems.

“I have known and worked with Markus Villinger and his team on several projects in the past, and I am more than happy that we have found an agreement to push the boundaries of development together,” said Mrs. Katrin Mayrhofer, COO and Co-Founder of Elsa Industry. “Villinger GmbH is a renowned engineering firm that has been serving the aviation industry for over 30 years, with a focus on developing superior ice protection, lightning protection and heating systems. Their expertise will be invaluable as we work to advance our cargo drone technology.”

“We are excited to partner with Villinger GmbH to push the boundaries of cargo drone technology,” said Mr. Cristinel Patrascu, Co-Founder and CEO of Elsa Industry. “By combining our strengths, we aim to provide a revolutionary solution for merchandise transportation, improving mobility with safe, sustainable, and cost-competitive electric air services.”

“This partnership aligns with our vision of enabling large-scale implementation of autonomous cargo drones,” said Markus Villinger, CEO of Villinger GmbH. “By addressing existing challenges and leveraging the latest advancements in AI and autonomous systems, we believe we can unlock the full potential of this technology to transform logistics and distribution networks.”

The MoU establishes a framework for the parties to work together in a cooperative and coordinated effort, while maintaining the flexibility to engage with other entities as needed.