Joby Aviation Completes First-Ever Autonomous Cross-Country Flight
Joby Aviation successfully completed a cross-country autonomous flight covering over 3,100 miles without human intervention. The aircraft performed taxiing, takeoffs, navigation, and landings autonomously while being remotely supervised from California and South Carolina. A pilot was on board for regulatory compliance but did not control the plane during any phase of the trip. The test flight used a converted Cessna Caravan equipped with Joby’s autonomy technology stack, demonstrating its ability to operate in diverse environments and support various missions such as medical transport and defense logistics. This achievement highlights an expansion beyond Joby's primary focus on electric air taxis toward autonomous aviation solutions for commercial freight and military applications. Joby has long pursued FAA certification for its eVTOL aircraft but is increasingly focusing on the defense sector, supported by a $17 million Air Force contract with AFWERX. The company also acquired Resonant Sciences in August 2023 to bolster its defense capabilities.
Tickers: $JOBY
Topics: autonomy technology aviation innovation electric aircraft unmanned flight