BRAZILIAN planemaker Embraer SA has signed an agreement with drone manufacturer Elroy Air to establish its foothold in the automated commercial air cargo market. "We believe the cargo market is prime for an autonomous aircraft," said chief executive officer Antonio Campello of of EmbraerX, the planemaker's business subsidiary that is focused on innovation, reported Reuters. Elroy chief executive Dave Merrill said in the statement that its Chaparral drone is capable of operating without airports or charging stations, and uses automated cargo loading. Elroy has developed aircraft that can carry between 114 and 227 kilogrammes over 483 km.