Harris Aerial, a Florida-based original equipment manufacturer specializing in industrial unmanned aircraft systems, has opened pre-orders and published technical specifications for the H4C Quad. The aircraft is a foldable, compact heavy-lift platform designed to bridge the operational divide between standard inspection quadcopters and multi-rotor heavy lifters.
Airframe Architecture and Foldable Form Factor
The H4C Quad utilizes an injection-molded chassis fabricated from aerospace-grade thermoplastics. Empty airframe weight stands at 8.15 kilograms (18 pounds), with a maximum takeoff weight of 12.15 kilograms (26.8 pounds). Fully deployed, the quadcopter has a tip-to-tip rotor span of 1,510 millimeters (59.4 inches). When collapsed for transport, the airframe measures 414 by 380 by 238 millimeters (16.3 by 15 by 9.4 inches), allowing single-operator transport in standard hard cases.
The electronics bay is sealed to an IP54 standard, providing environmental protection against dust ingress and precipitation during field deployments in adverse weather conditions.
Power Distribution and Operational Endurance
Propulsion is powered by dual 8 Ah 12S intelligent smart batteries wired in parallel, delivering a combined 16 Ah system capacity. The power management module supports field hot-swapping in under 30 seconds to minimize turnaround intervals between sorties.
Unloaded, the aircraft achieves a flight endurance of up to 50 minutes. Under a maximum payload configuration of 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds), continuous flight endurance is rated at approximately 24 minutes. The propulsion architecture is tuned to maintain high control authority when lifting dense sensor packages in high-wind environments.
Modular Interface and Sensor Compatibility
The aircraft integrates a dampened universal quick-release mount that allows mechanical and electrical payload swaps in under 45 seconds. The electrical interface provides configurable auxiliary power output rails at 5V, 12V, 14V, 24V, 28V, and 48V direct battery voltage. The data communication stack routes Ethernet, UART, CAN, GPIO, HDMI, and USB-C connectivity directly through the mounting junction.
This open hardware architecture supports direct integration with LiDAR units such as the Phoenix Ranger U120 and YellowScan Venturer, as well as photogrammetry systems including the Sony ILX-LR1 and Phase One iXM. Flight control is managed by a Cube Orange+ autopilot running custom ArduPilot firmware, equipped with dual RTK GNSS receivers and a 15-kilometer command-and-control link capable of beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations.
Domestic Supply Chain and Commercial Availability
Harris Aerial designs, manufactures, and assembles the H4C at its Casselberry, Florida facility. The system complies with Section 848 of the National Defense Authorization Act, aligning with federal cybersecurity and domestic procurement mandates for government and critical infrastructure operators.
Base commercial packages start at $24,999, which includes the flight-ready airframe, dual 12S batteries, charging station, and custom transport case. Initial production deliveries are scheduled to begin at the end of the first quarter of 2027.