Skip to content 
The skies are fast becoming the next frontier for logistics and defense mobility. In response, ASX (Airspace Experience Technologies) has stepped forward with a bold solution. Its modular VTOL cargo aircraft offers autonomous, emission-free aerial transport designed for maximum flexibility and efficiency. Unveiled in partnership with Sandy Munro at a recent Cybertruck event, this revolutionary aircraft marks a major shift in how we move goods and support missions. It embodies lean design principles and engineering precision. Moreover, it’s optimized for mission flexibility, defense integration, and future-focused air traffic coordination.
A Vision Born from Lean Engineering and Defense Needs
ASX CEO Jon Rimanelli described the aircraft as a modular multi-mission vertical takeoff and landing system, capable of supporting medevac, contested logistics, autonomous troop transport, and civilian cargo delivery. The design incorporates a collaborative robotic ground vehicle. In addition, it includes a plug-and-play payload pod architecture. Together, these elements enable rapid reconfiguration for diverse missions.
The system reflects a deep commitment to lean engineering—minimizing moving parts, reducing failure modes, and maximizing flexibility. Each aircraft features distributed electric propulsion and a tilt-wing configuration, reducing the mechanical complexity that has plagued other vertical-lift aircraft like the V-22 Osprey.
Inside the Modular VTOL System: Function Meets Efficiency
At the core of the ASX system is what Rimanelli calls the “skateboard” platform—a ground vehicle with all-wheel drive and steering that can collapse and be containerized for shipping. The aircraft’s payload pod docks with this ground vehicle and contains swappable battery packs in its subfloor. When cargo is delivered, the empty pod can be replaced by a new one preloaded with fresh batteries and a new payload—eliminating downtime and avoiding recharging delays.
Payload and Range Capabilities
-
Block One Model: 1,000-pound payload capacity
-
Block Two Model: 2,000-pound payload with hybrid turbo-generator for extended range (200+ miles)
-
Troop Transport Variant: Supports six to eight personnel with gear
This architecture positions the aircraft to address both military and civilian logistics needs. The U.S. Air Force is already on board, awarding ASX an Other Transaction Agreement under its Agility Prime program. The company is currently under its second Air Force contract and preparing for a third, with live flight testing scheduled for Q2/Q3 2025. A future procurement order valued at up to $100 million is potentially in play.
Why It Matters: Lessons from the Osprey and Next-Gen Design
The ASX VTOL stands apart from legacy vertical-lift aircraft through simplification and redundancy. Rimanelli notes that the Osprey’s tilt-rotor mechanism introduces catastrophic failure points and intense pilot workload. By contrast, the ASX vehicle distributes thrust through multiple electric motors, achieving a thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.6, providing 60% more thrust than needed to hover—enabling safe descent even after multiple motor failures.
Crucially, the system avoids actuators in its primary flight control design, minimizing failure modes. Only two actuators control wing tilt to stabilize the fuselage. In failure scenarios, the aircraft can still complete missions or land safely—ensuring high reliability in both defense and civilian use.
As Munro noted, “Electric motors almost never fail. You’d have to put a zillion hours on these things before you see issues.”
Commercial Logistics and Urban Integration
ASX’s ambitions go beyond battlefield logistics. Partnered with ICAT Logistics since 2022, the company is actively exploring commercial deployments of up to 25 aircraft for high-value, urgent logistics tasks—particularly within Metro Detroit’s automotive ecosystem. These early pilots validate the vehicle’s viability in real-world, high-demand environments.
But ASX isn’t stopping at airframes. They’ve developed a proprietary airborne traffic management system, codenamed AeroNet, designed to safely coordinate mixed aerial traffic across urban and semi-urban environments. This wireless mesh network broadcasts traffic rules, authenticates air and ground vehicles, and prevents collisions by managing airspace like an intelligent roadway.
“How do you coordinate the skies when there are no stop signs, lights, or yellow lines?” Rimanelli asked. “AeroNet allows us to manage and authenticate all this traffic, from drones to heavy lifters, in a shared airspace.”
From Defense to Infrastructure: A Scalable, Sky-First Strategy
ASX works closely with the Michigan Department of Transportation. It also partners with the Office of Aeronautics and infrastructure leader WSP. Together, they are piloting this system in Michigan.
Together, they aim to create a scalable traffic control infrastructure. Furthermore, this system can expand to cities worldwide—managing airborne logistics, coordinating inspections, supporting emergency response, and enabling passenger mobility.
This model envisions a convergence between robotics, electrification, autonomy, and smart infrastructure, where modular aircraft like ASX’s are nodes in a larger, dynamic logistics web. It’s the kind of vision that could transform cities the way railroads and highways once did.
Lean Design Philosophy: From Munro’s Shop to the Skies
The aircraft embodies Munro & Associates’ own core principles—lean manufacturing, system simplicity, and elegant engineering. ASX has managed to reduce the aircraft to under 10 moving parts, all of them direct drive. Rimanelli hopes to reduce that count even further.
“Simplicity is safety,” said Rimanelli. “The fewer moving parts, the fewer things that can fail.”
This philosophy extends to the aircraft’s modular plug-and-play batteries, the use of electric motors with high MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure), and a configuration that supports autonomous flight modes with reduced pilot burden.
The Future is Clean, Quiet, and Connected
ASX’s approach reflects an understanding that the future of transportation must be clean, connected, and quiet. Their platform is engineered for minimal emissions, low acoustic footprint, and software-driven operations that can adapt to a dynamic urban environment.
The Department of Defense backs ASX. Logistics providers like ICAT also support the company. In addition, ASX collaborates with top infrastructure leaders. As a result, it is well positioned to lead the shift toward sky-first logistics and defense operations.
Their AeroNet vision ensures that this future won’t be chaotic but organized and scalable, empowering cities and militaries alike to rethink how they move people and goods.
Explore More With Munro
To dive deeper into engineering insights, teardown analyses, and next-gen mobility breakthroughs, check out Munro & Associates or subscribe to Munro Live. Learn how lean design is reshaping aviation, automotive, and everything in between.