Hili. The Story Behind The Name.

Deep in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s desert hinterland, in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Ain, sits the Bronze Age settlement of Hili. Hili was once home to our ancestors, the Umm Al Nar people, ancient traders who left behind a wondrous legacy, including the perfectly preserved fingerprints of craftsmen from 3000 years ago. To us, the name Hili represents more than a site of great cultural and archaeological significance for all Emiratis. It connects, enables and leads the way to something greater.

Together, as we look ahead to decades of pioneering innovation in civilian aerospace here in the UAE, Hili firmly connects our rich past – a time of great scientific exploration, discovery, travel and commerce across the region – with our dynamic and exciting future. It brings together yesterday, today and tomorrow. And, in an era of ever-greater connectedness, it positions LODD’s advanced UAVs at the very forefront of aviation technology in the Gulf and beyond: aspirational, vibrant, future-focused... and proudly Emirati.

Hili

Expanding express logistics beyond roads and airports.

100 kts Cruise Speed

300 km Range

250 kg Payload

Cargo Capabilities

LODD is revolutionizing logistics with Hili, our autonomous long-range aircraft that features an adaptable, two-Euro-pallet, 250kg cargo system. Our goal: point-to-point rapid delivery solutions independent of charging infrastructure.

Watch Our Cargo Capabilities

Autonomous Logistics

Improves the customer experience with faster more flexible delivery options for all types of cargo and destinations.

Autonomous Operations

Increasing the autonomy of logistics operations is a top LODD priority. By incorporating leading -edge technologies such as automated flight, route optimisation, a smart vertiport system and artificial intelligence, LODD is making door-to-door logistics autonomy a reality.

Hybrid & distributed propulsion

The propulsion system on the Hili cargo drone is based on a hybrid and distributed propulsion architecture. Eight lifting motors distributed over the fuselage provide enhanced aircraft balancing and controllability, while the conventional ICE pusher engine provides extended range and endurance. Hybrid propulsion enables easy adaptation to future technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells and semiconductor batteries.

Redundant avionics

State-of-the-art avionics design is crucial to the performance of any aircraft system. Hili’s indigenous avionics architecture increases reliability and safety by prioritising redundancy of flight control computers, communication links and navigation sensors. Hili’s avionics design also enables online flight plan updates, preventative fault management, and optimised operations handling via real-time inflight data transfers.

Inflight charging

Efficient logistics operations succeed by minimising aircraft time on ground. Supporting this, Hili’s inflight charging system means no need for ground charging. Consecutive flights require minutes for refuelling, not hours for battery charging. This also means Hili can fly to sites without battery charging infrastructure.

Large cargo bay

Hili’s expansive 2.7m3 cargo bay makes loading and unloading cargo fast and easy, and simplifies transport of bulky payload components. The two-EURO-pallet, 250kg capacity can be configured to handle special consignments and includes electrical power in the cargo bay.

Fast Forward Save time, improve efficiency over traditional transport.

Watch Our Logistic Routes

Safety & Privacy

At LODD, safety and privacy are core principles integrated into the design, build, and operation of our hybrid VTOL UAVs. Our aircraft are engineered to meet the highest safety standards, combining advanced technology with rigorous testing and compliance with international regulations. From construction to flight operations, every aspect is meticulously managed to ensure reliability, durability, and secure performance.

We prioritize privacy by ensuring our systems do not capture, record, or transmit images of the terrain they fly over. Additionally, we collect only essential data, safeguard it with advanced encryption, and provide customers full control over their information. At LODD, safety and privacy are at the heart of everything we do, driving our commitment to innovation and trust.