Sundog Technologies is developing heavy-lift and long-endurance drones for aerial logistics, with a focus on making certain types of work safer and more cost-effective.
The Calgary-based company is a member of Innovate Calgary’s Aerospace Innovation Hub. Its work is focused on drone systems that could provide an alternative to helicopters in situations where cost, access, safety, or emissions are a concern.
Ali Najmabadi, CEO and Co-Founder of Sundog Technologies, says the company’s goal is to make aerial logistics more accessible.
“What we’re trying to do here is lower the cost and increase the availability of aerial logistics,” says Ali.
The company’s upcoming flagship product is being designed for heavy-lift applications where drones could help reduce the need to send helicopters and crews into difficult or dangerous environments.
“The safety aspect is important,” said Ali. “For example, if you’re dealing with forest fires, and have a helicopter close to the fumes and fire, that’s a dangerous zone to be in for the pilots and whoever else is in the helicopter.”
Ali brings 10 years of experience working on electric powertrains. He received his PhD from the University of Michigan, where his research focused on the hybridization of vehicles. At Sundog Technologies, that background is helping shape the company’s approach to aerospace.
“Our focus is the powertrain of the machine,” said Ali. “And that’s why we’re coming from an automotive background, because there’s lots of innovation that’s been done in that field, which we can bring to aerospace.”
For Ali, being connected to the Aerospace Innovation Hub has helped address one of the challenges of building in aerospace: entering a sector where he did not already have an established network.
“Coming into an industry that I didn’t have any connections in was a big challenge,” Ali said. “This is where the Aerospace Innovation Hub and Aerospace Accelerator Program has been helpful in making those connections and building a community.”
Sundog Technologies is currently working toward production by December 2028. As the company develops its technology, Ali says the team is drawing from advances in hybrid and electric vehicles and applying them to heavy-lift drone design.
“What has allowed hybrid and electric vehicles to go further and be more compact, we’re bringing that technology to the next generation of heavy-lift drones.”
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