DEPLOYDatabase

Robot model

Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp

Buoyant Aero's unmanned hybrid airship is a zero-emissions autonomous drone blimp designed for middle-mile cargo delivery, with 650 lb payload capacity.

Track Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp
Manufacturer
Buoyant Aero
Form factor
aerial
Maturity
prototype
Lifecycle
active
Deployments
1

The verified answer

As of Aug 2026, DEPLOY verifies Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp, a aerial by Buoyant Aero (prototype): 1 verified deployment on record. 1 source back the record.

Appears inLogistics robots/Delivery drones

Overview

Buoyant Aero's unmanned hybrid airship is a zero-emissions autonomous drone blimp designed for middle-mile cargo delivery, with 650 lb payload capacity. The blimp fits into existing supply chains for simpler operations compared to traditional cargo aircraft.

Verified vs. claimed

Maturity stage
prototype(Demo-capable; limited or one-off public appearances.)
Sources on file
View all sources →

Key facts

YC Batch

Summer 2021

Payload

650 lb

Market

middle-mile cargo delivery ($6B US market)

Specs

Payload kg

294.78

Data & sources

Web sources

1

1 source backing this record.View all →

Pricing

No verified price is on record for Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.

How DEPLOY tracks pricing

Deployments (1)

Free to use on your site, with a link back to DEPLOY.

Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp on the deployment map

View the global map

Where Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp is verified operating. Explore the deployment map by place and type.

Free to use on your site, with a link back to DEPLOY.

Recent activity

Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.

Full change history →

Safety record

1 incident on record (1 minor). Most recent: May 2026.

minor
1

Most recent: May 2026

Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Incidents affecting Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp (1)

Includes incidents linked directly to this model or to deployments of it. Retracted incidents are excluded from this view but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Sources (1)

  1. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28278515

Common questions

What is Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp?
Buoyant Aero's unmanned hybrid airship is a zero-emissions autonomous drone blimp designed for middle-mile cargo delivery, with 650 lb payload capacity. The blimp fits into existing supply chains for simpler operations compared to traditional cargo aircraft.
How much does Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp cost?
Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp from Buoyant Aero. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.
Is Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp actually deployed in the real world?
Yes. Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp is independently verified in real-world operation on the DEPLOY registry, confirmed at named deployment sites with primary sources: not a concept, render, or demo-only.
Who makes Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp?
Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp is made by Buoyant Aero, based in San Francisco, CA, USA, founded in 2020.
Where is Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp deployed?
1 verified deployment of Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp is on the DEPLOY registry, including at Los Angeles, California, USA.
Can you buy Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp?
Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp is at prototype stage and is not yet available for sale.
What are alternatives to Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp?
On the DEPLOY registry, comparable aerial robots to Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp include Skydio X10, Prime Air MK30, Zipline Platform 2 (P2), MQ-9 Reaper.
How does Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp compare to Skydio X10?
Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp and Skydio X10 (Skydio · 20 deployments) are both aerial robots on the DEPLOY registry. Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp has 1 verified deployment on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
Is Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp a top aerial?
On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp ranks in roughly the top 57% of aerial models tracked by the registry.
What is Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp's maturity stage?
Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp is at the prototype stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Prototype stage means demonstrations exist but commercial readiness is not yet established.
Is Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp safe?
Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp has 1 active incident on record in the DEPLOY registry. 1 incident on record (1 minor). Most recent: May 2026. Retracted incidents are excluded from this count.
Methodology: Verified · 1 source (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-07-22

Verification posture

Verified

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-07-22

Maturity + lifecycle

Maturity stage: prototype

Lifecycle: active

Architectural position

Cohort: aerial

Sources by quality tier

1
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp.

Recent coverage

Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp in third-party press

YC grad Buoyant wants to solve middle-mile delivery with cargo airships

Aug 27, 2021

Launch HN: Buoyant (YC S21) – Blimp drones for air freight

Aug 27, 2021