A2Z Drone Delivery unveils Longtail Dual
A2Z Drone Delivery has launched the Longtail Dual, a commercial hexacopter featuring a fully redundant dual-battery system designed for safer beyond visual
California-based A2Z Drone Delivery has unveiled the Longtail Dual, an upgraded commercial drone. It swaps a single battery for a fully redundant dual-battery system to enhance safety for long-range beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.
The headline feature is true battery redundancy. Unlike conventional setups, the aircraft is designed to remain fully controllable if one battery fails. This is a key consideration for flights over populated areas and critical infrastructure. A2Z states the design helps operators navigate regulatory hurdles like FAA Part 107 waivers and Europe's SORA framework.
CEO Aaron Zhang says the company made only a small compromise in payload capacity for the added safety. He notes roughly 85% of delivery missions carry less than six pounds, a weight the Longtail Dual can handle while staying under the common 55-pound commercial UAV limit.
Redundancy and Rapid Charging
The battery system does more than provide a backup. Each battery monitors its own health, tracking cell temperature and degradation. The drone retains onboard battery heating for cold weather and can enter a low-power standby mode at a docking station.
Perhaps more impactful is the charging integration. The Longtail Dual works with A2Z's AirDock autonomous docking stations. Here, batteries can recharge at roughly the same rate as flight time. A 30-minute flight requires about 30 minutes of charging. A2Z calls this a one-to-one flight-to-charge ratio. For continuous commercial operations, reducing ground time boosts fleet productivity.
Built for Reliability
Redundancy extends beyond the power system. The hexacopter can continue flying after a motor failure. Dual cellular connections switch between providers to maintain video and telemetry on long flights. Optional equipment includes a parachute for certain regulations and an ADS-B module for aircraft awareness.
The aircraft is rated IPX4 for moderate rain operations. It includes high-visibility strobe lighting and real-time motor health monitoring to support predictive maintenance.
Modular Mission Configurations
A2Z offers the Longtail Dual in two modular configurations tailored for different industries.
| Configuration | Primary Use | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Longtail Dual Cargo | Package Delivery | RDS2 drone winch for lowering packages from altitude, downward-facing LiDAR for placement, onboard FPV cameras. |
| Longtail Dual Patrol | Public Safety & Infrastructure | Quad-sensor camera (48MP zoom, wide-angle, thermal, laser rangefinder), spotlight, megaphone, drone winch. |
The Cargo configuration keeps propellers away from people by lowering packages. It is suited for retail goods, food, tools, or medical samples. The Patrol version is designed for search-and-rescue, drone-as-first-responder deployments, inspections, and delivering emergency supplies.
The Autonomous Ecosystem
The drone is part of a larger system. A2Z's AirDock stations allow drones to land, recharge, pick up packages, and launch autonomously. Multiple docks can form regional networks, letting aircraft hop between stations. Operators manage missions remotely via the company's CloudOS fleet management platform.
As regulations evolve to support more BVLOS flights, companies are looking at complete autonomous ecosystems. With the Longtail Dual, A2Z is betting on redundancy, faster turnaround, and dock-to-dock automation as critical for the next generation of commercial drone fleets.
