Very Heavy-Lift Battery Operated Industrial Remotely Pilot Aerial Systems (RPAS)

The National Research Council of Canada's (NRC) Centre for Drone Innovation, part of the Drone and Flight Autonomy Laboratory, has a requirement for the supply of one (1) very heavy-lift, battery-operated industrial remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) for aerial vertical lifting and cargo transport, the FlyingBasket FB3 in the sling-payload configuration, including one (1) mobile beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS)-capable ground control station with quad-redundant datalink, battery sets and a smart charger, a remote-controlled load hook, dual video streams (forward- and downward-facing cameras), enhanced containment (4G and RF), a Starlink command-and-control capability, mission-management software and a documentation package including Specific Operations Risk Assessment (SORA) templates. The system will provide a runway-independent very heavy-lift aerial platform capable of carrying payloads of up to 100 kg, with a maximum take-off weight of approximately 175 kg, for the transport, deployment and testing of large, suspended and non-standard scientific research payloads including NRC's HySpex Mjolnir VS620 hyperspectral imaging system in remote, complex and operationally demanding environments. The requirement includes cargo pilot training and maintenance training, developed and delivered directly by the manufacturer, manufacturer-provided mission-planning and operational-authorization support, spare parts, technical support and a direct technical escalation channel to the manufacturer, with a minimum twenty-four (24) month warranty. Delivery of the complete system is required to NRC, Ottawa, Ontario, no later than March 31, 2027.