Guardian Agriculture is the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer to begin commercial operations. Specifically, the company has begun operating four of its SC1 eVTOL aircraft, spraying crops in the Salinas Valley region of California. Here’s a look at the Guardian Agriculture SC1 eVTOL.

About the Guardian SC1

Most of the time when we think of crop sprayers we think of engine-powered aircraft like airplanes and helicopters. Or we think of engine-powered ground units. This is where Guardian’s SC1 eVTOL aircraft is unique. The SC1 is the only autonomous, electric, aerial crop protection system designed specifically for large-scale agriculture. The company says its eVTOLs spray crops more efficiently, sustainably, and safely than traditional crop-dusters or ground-based equipment. The SC1’s systems are fully programmable, repeatable, and easy to operate. No manual control is required, and it has RTK/GNSS remote control accuracy. Additionally, the SC1 has intelligent auto-protect and return-to-home functionality. It’s also worth noting that Guardian designs and manufactures its system entirely within the U.S., unlike existing unmanned autonomous systems.

By the Numbers

To provide a perspective on the size of Guardian’s SC1 eVTOL, here are some dimensions. The craft measures 12 feet long by 12 feet wide. Each of the craft’s props measure 6 feet in length. The spray boom is 16 feet long and it has a swath path of over 20 feet. More numbers: The eVTOL has a 40 hp drivetrain, a 4 hp brushless electric pump, and a pump speed of 20 gallons per minute. Power is provided by a 9.1 kWh battery. Consequently, a single Guardian eVTOL system can cover up to 60 acres per hour and can carry a 200-pound payload. Furthermore, it has a combined tank fill and supercharge time of less than 1 minute. Pricing for the SC1 starts at $119,000 and deliveries begin in late 2023.

FAA Approval in March 2023

Guardian received approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate its aircraft nationwide. This happened in March 2023. This is notable because it’s the first commercially authorized eVTOL of any kind in the U.S. Also notable: Guardian is a member of the FAA’s Integration Partnership Agreement, which advises the FAA on how to incorporate eVTOLs into the national airspace system. “This is a watershed moment for sustainable farming and a giant leap forward for eVTOL technology,” said Guardian Founder and CEO Adam Bercu. “While several companies are developing eVTOL technologies, we are now the only one that has both secured FAA approval to operate commercially nationwide, and that’s actually started flying missions on behalf of paying customers.”

About Guardian Agriculture

Guardian is operating in a global commercial agriculture segment valued at $65 billion annually. The company’s eVTOL platform already has more than $100 million in customer orders. The company was founded in 2017 and has offices in Massachusetts and California. It has raised more than $20 million in funding. The leadership team at Guardian includes engineering, autonomy, and manufacturing leaders. Previously, members of the team held senior-level positions at Apple, BAE, Sikorsky, Righthand Robotics, Tesla, and Uber.