An innovative
delivery concept
using vans as
connected, mobile
landing platforms for drones
has been successfully tested in
Zurich, Switzerland.
The pilot
project
represented
a significant
milestone for
autonomous
aerial systems; it
was the first time
that extensive,
beyond lineof-
sight drone
operations using
vans as landing
platforms had
taken place in a major urban
area to test a fully automated
e-commerce drone network.
The drones, which can carry
2kg packages up to 20km,
landed on the roof of one
of two vans equipped with
precision landing technology,
thereby ensuring the safety of
passers-by.
During the course of the
three-week pilot project,
customers were able to order
selected products from an
online marketplace. Shipments
were not delivered to
consumers directly by drone,
but rather to
the delivery
vans, which
handled
delivery for
the final
segment of
the last mile.
The vans
stopped at
one of four
‘rendezvous
points’ within
Zurich, where
van drivers took possession
of the products and delivered
them to customers, while the
drones returned to the retailer.
The entire logistics chain,
from order receipt to delivery
to the customer, was timed and
compared against conventional
delivery methods to gain
insights into the efficiency of
the test.
The goal of the project is to
significantly improve the time
and service level associated
with on-demand delivery,
and consequently create
added value for retailers and
consumers. The development
of the overall system uses an
iterative approach and is based
on early testing and continuous
optimisation.
The operation was
authorised by the Swiss
Federal Office of Civil
Aviation, following the
Specific Operations Risk
Assessment (SORA)
methodology developed by
JARUS (Joint Authorities for
Rulemaking on Unmanned
Systems) and was approved
by all relevant Swiss air and
ground authorities.
Safety was the guiding
principle during the pilot,
which ran for seven hours
a day, five days a week
in favourable weather
conditions. The drones were
integrated in the Swiss
airspace system using the
same sense and avoid system
used by helicopter operators.
Each drone was equipped with
a parachute system that could
be automatically deployed in
case of malfunction.
The test revealed that use
of vans reduced the overall
delivery cycle and cost
compared to existing courier
service operations, with
packages delivered faster,
irrespective of traffic patterns
in urban areas.
By integrating drone
systems into the logistics
chain like this, there is no
change in customer behaviour
– customers receive their
packages from a van driver
in the exact same way they
normally would.
The system gives retailers
and logistics companies the
ability to provide customers
with a true on-demand
delivery solution, without
the need for additional
infrastructure. And, it allows
companies with van fleets to
further leverage their assets
by providing additional,
on-demand services.
INSERT
Shipments are
not delivered to
consumers directly by
drone, but rather to
the delivery vans.
