Pyka
"Build the most useful autonomous aircraft on Earth"
Autonomous electric fixed-wing aircraft for agricultural crop protection and cargo logistics, the largest FAA-approved UAS in the US.
Pyka is an American aerospace and robotics company headquartered in Alameda, California, founded in 2017 by Michael Norcia, Kyle Moore, Chuma Ogunwole, and Nathan White. The company designs, manufactures, and operates fully autonomous electric fixed-wing aircraft for agricultural crop protection and commercial cargo transport. Pyka was part of Y Combinator's Summer 2017 batch and has grown from a garage startup to a 110,000 sq. ft. historic aviation hangar in Alameda.
The company's flagship product, the Pelican Spray, is a 100% electric, fully autonomous UAS that operates without a remote pilot in command, making it the largest FAA-approved UAS for agricultural spraying operations in the United States. The latest generation, Pelican 2, expands capability further with a 300-liter spray tank, an 18-meter swath width, a four-motor electric propulsion system, five hot-swappable lithium-ion battery sets for 24/7 continuous operations, advanced LiDAR and radar systems for autonomous day-and-night navigation, and supports both hydraulic nozzles and electric rotary atomizers for dynamic droplet size control. Pelican 2 is the largest UAS ever approved for commercial operation by the FAA.
Pyka's aircraft have been deployed commercially across the United States, Central America, and Brazil, serving major agribusiness customers including Dole and SLC Agricola, as well as defense and logistics customers such as the United States Air Force and Sierra Nevada Corporation. The company has demonstrated its aircraft in cargo roles and is actively developing dual-use autonomous electric aircraft for both commercial and defense logistics applications.
Pyka raised an $11M seed round in 2019, a $37M Series A in 2022, and a $40M Series B in 2024, bringing total funding to approximately $88M. The company holds multiple FAA certifications and regulatory approvals enabling commercial UAS operations in the United States, a significant regulatory milestone for large autonomous aircraft.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Pelican 2
- Model: Pelican 2
- Launch Year: 2025
World's largest FAA-approved autonomous electric crop protection aircraft with 300L tank and 18m swath.
Pelican Spray
- Model: Pelican Spray
- Launch Year: 2022
Autonomous 100% electric fixed-wing UAS for large-scale agricultural spraying, first-gen FAA-approved model.
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Contact Pyka
WEBSITE
https://www.flypyka.com/HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
2017
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
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Certifications & Memberships
