In what might pave the way for drone-delivered mail, Gurugram-based drone firm TechEagle delivered a cargo in Gujarat this week as part of a test operation with India Post.
In less than 30 minutes, a drone fly delivered a cargo in Gujarat’s Kutch area, covering a distance of 46 kilometres. TechEagle claimed in a statement that this was five times faster than surface transit. The drone delivery was notable for being one of the country’s longest single delivery missions. When the wind got up to 30 kph, it was able to move.
Last month, the business unveiled the ‘VertiplaneX3’, a hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone with a payload capacity of 3 kg, a range of 100 kilometres, and a peak speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The VTOL drone can take off and land vertically, just like a helicopter, from a tiny 5mx5m space.
The project, according to Anshu Abhishek, co-founder and COO of TechEagle, is focused at facilitating speedier delivery across the country, whether in metropolitan centres or rural villages. “Lessons learned from the experiment will assist stakeholders in scaling up and commercialising drone mail delivery across the country,” he added.
Swiggy, a Bengaluru-based logistics and delivery company, began testing the use of drones to make deliveries from its grocery service Instamart last month. The corporation has enlisted the help of four ‘drone-as-a-service’ operators, including TechEagle, for these experiments, which are being undertaken in two parts.
Several other drone companies have teamed up with state governments and other agencies to perform trials of drone-delivered vaccinations and medical supplies. Delhivery, a logistics services provider, announced the purchase of Transition Robotics, a drone platform developer located in California, in December.
Wing, the drone delivery branch of internet giant Alphabet, has delivered its first consignment in a major US urban region, delivering boxes of medications from Walgreens in Dallas, Texas.
