DARPA's "Lift": Drones to lift 4x their weight, Chinese parts allowed for new tech.

• DARPA launched the "Lift" competition to develop multirotor drones capable of lifting four times their own weight, aiming to revolutionize military and commercial operations.
• The competition requires drones under 55 lbs to lift at least 110 lbs, travel 4 nautical miles, drop the payload, travel another nautical mile, and land precisely, all within 30 minutes.
• The "Lift" mission seeks to create smaller, cheaper drones for logistics, enabling safer and more efficient delivery of supplies in warfare, reducing reliance on large, expensive aircraft.
• Uniquely, the competition allows the use of Chinese components to encourage broader participation and identify gaps in US drone manufacturing capabilities.
• Success in the "Lift" competition could transform military logistics and supply chains, making small drones a game-changer for future warfare.

Why It Matters: DARPA's Lift competition could revolutionize logistics with drones lifting 4x their weight.