DARPA Lift Challenge highlights AVIDrone Katana heavy-lift UAV (3.84:1 payload ratio)

DARPA’s Lift Challenge demonstrated a small electric helicopter UAV (AVIDrone Katana) lifting 112.4 lb while weighing 29.3 lb, achieving a 3.84:1 payload-to-weight ratio over ~5 nautical miles. This represents a notable step toward practical heavy-lift small UAS that could enable new battlefield logistics/resupply and payload carriage options compared to typical multirotors limited to ~1:1.