DARPA heavy lift challenge ends with winner at a 3.84:1 payload to weight ratio

Avidrone Inc. won the DARPA Lift Challenge using the Katana, a single-main-rotor helicopter that achieved a 3.84:1 payload-to-weight ratio. The 13.3 kg aircraft lifted 51 kg of cast iron over a 19-minute flight. This outperforms commercial heavy-lift platforms like the DJI FlyCart 100, which operates at approximately 0.53:1.