Project PITSTOP
An autonomous robotic ground servicing station in active development, designed to handle chemical refill and drone servicing at the field edge — without a technician standing by. Phase I complete. Development ongoing.
Provisional Patent Filed · April 2026What PITSTOP Does
Heavy-lift spray drones are operationally limited by turnaround time at the field edge. A full 40 L spray mission runs 12–18 minutes, after which the aircraft needs chemical refill before the next run. Manual servicing ties up a technician and limits how many aircraft one operator can manage.
PITSTOP is designed to automate that turnaround. The drone docks autonomously, chemical refill is handled robotically, and the aircraft is ready for the next sortie without manual intervention.
Phase I of the system — covering the mechanical docking mechanism and passive compliant docking approach — has been built and demonstrated. Development of subsequent phases is ongoing.
Built with Purdue University
PITSTOP's Phase I was developed in collaboration with Purdue University's agricultural and biological engineering capstone program. The team completed the initial prototype, delivering mechanical design, controls integration, and a functional demonstration of the autonomous docking sequence.
The project was awarded First Place at the Purdue ABE Impact & Innovation Showcase. Development is continuing beyond Phase I. Liberty Aerotech holds full IP rights to the system. A provisional patent was filed in April 2026.
Developed in Collaboration with Purdue University · ABE Capstone Program