New Hera rescue and defense drone provides 360 views, larger payload than rivals

California startup Realtime Robotics is introducing a portable, relatively heavy-lift drone called Hera that the company says beats rivals as a situational awareness asset for first responders, as well as a munitions delivery device for security and defense forces. As such it also sounds like something likely to find numerous takers in Ukraine just now.

Realtime Robotics (RtRobotics) describes the Hera being easily folded and carried in a backpack – batteries and cameras included. It provides 360-degree views of surveyed terrain while carrying payloads of up to 33 lbs. The Castro Valley-based company claims that weight capacity is 10 times larger than all similar-sized UAVs on the market. By way of example, RtRobotics says that in conflict situations, the craft can carry a munition of up to 30 pounds, versus just three by rivals.

Imagine just how effectively Ukraine troops could put that assembly of tech to use in fighting off invading Russian troops…