Elmo's High-Power-Density Servo Drives Power AIR's Heavy-Lift Cargo UAV: Air-Cooled Design Replaces Liquid Cooling
AIR and Elmo Motion Control announced a strategic partnership under which Elmo's Gold HV motor drives will deliver precise, responsive control for the eight electric propulsion motors of AIR's heavy-lift VTOL cargo UAV. The high-efficiency drive system enables fully air-cooled operation, cutting weight and system complexity while increasing payload capacity.
According to a September 4 report by RoboticsTomorrow, smart aircraft manufacturer AIR has announced a strategic partnership with global motion control specialist Elmo Motion Control. Elmo will integrate its high-performance motion control solution into AIR's Heavy Lift UAS, a VTOL-capable uncrewed cargo aircraft capable of carrying payloads of up to 550 lb (approximately 250 kg).
Under the partnership, Elmo's Gold HV motor drives will power AIR's eight electric propulsion motors, delivering precise and highly responsive control. The Gold HV line is renowned for its exceptional power density, packing high output into a compact form factor ideally suited to weight- and volume-sensitive aerospace platforms. Critically, the high-efficiency drive system enables fully air-cooled operation of the aircraft, eliminating complex liquid cooling entirely. Removing the liquid cooling loop reduces weight and system complexity while directly increasing payload capacity.
"Our uncrewed cargo platform is a mission-ready system, and this new partnership enhances our aircraft's ability to deliver performance and value while meeting operational demands," said Rani Plaut, CEO of AIR. "Working with Elmo will ensure that the future of autonomous flight and unmanned logistics are as safe as possible, while maintaining capabilities and meeting requirements across defense, commercial, and humanitarian needs." The collaboration contributes to one of the industry's highest payload-to-size ratios for autonomous cargo aircraft, advancing next-generation electric aviation through lightweight, high-performance propulsion technology.
This case once again underlines the pivotal role of high-power-density servo drive technology in electric aviation and unmanned systems: every percentage point of drive efficiency translates directly into payload, range, or endurance gains. Chengdu Repunite Technology's integrated joint modules (e.g., JTM-90-282, 48 V / 282 W, 24.5 A peak current) and JGASD series MIL-grade servo drives share the same design philosophy of compact, high-reliability motion control, with wide operating temperature ranges of -40°C to +85°C, serving unmanned systems and specialized platforms.
Under the partnership, Elmo's Gold HV motor drives will power AIR's eight electric propulsion motors, delivering precise and highly responsive control. The Gold HV line is renowned for its exceptional power density, packing high output into a compact form factor ideally suited to weight- and volume-sensitive aerospace platforms. Critically, the high-efficiency drive system enables fully air-cooled operation of the aircraft, eliminating complex liquid cooling entirely. Removing the liquid cooling loop reduces weight and system complexity while directly increasing payload capacity.
"Our uncrewed cargo platform is a mission-ready system, and this new partnership enhances our aircraft's ability to deliver performance and value while meeting operational demands," said Rani Plaut, CEO of AIR. "Working with Elmo will ensure that the future of autonomous flight and unmanned logistics are as safe as possible, while maintaining capabilities and meeting requirements across defense, commercial, and humanitarian needs." The collaboration contributes to one of the industry's highest payload-to-size ratios for autonomous cargo aircraft, advancing next-generation electric aviation through lightweight, high-performance propulsion technology.
This case once again underlines the pivotal role of high-power-density servo drive technology in electric aviation and unmanned systems: every percentage point of drive efficiency translates directly into payload, range, or endurance gains. Chengdu Repunite Technology's integrated joint modules (e.g., JTM-90-282, 48 V / 282 W, 24.5 A peak current) and JGASD series MIL-grade servo drives share the same design philosophy of compact, high-reliability motion control, with wide operating temperature ranges of -40°C to +85°C, serving unmanned systems and specialized platforms.
Source: RoboticsTomorrow · September 4, 2026
