DHL launches the first unmanned aircraft for a unique pilot project. Taking place for the first time worldwide, medications and other urgently needed goods will be delivered to the North Sea island of Juist, in Germany, by DHL flying ‘delivery drones’.
This research project represents the first and only time in Europe that a flight by an unmanned aircraft, also known as drone, will be operated outside of the pilot's field of vision in a real-life mission, equipped by state-of-art GPS technology.
The drone will take off from Norddeich Harbour in Germany and will land on the island of Juist, in a landing field reserved specifically for it. The plane will deliver medicines and other urgently needed goods to the 2,000 residents of Juist. If the pilot study proves successful, then it can be used for the delivery of parcels to other remote or isolated areas.
DHL’s yellow drone which was has been named a ‘Parcelcopter’, is powered by four identical fixed pitch propellers. Its total weight is 5kg (including the delivery parcel), with the weight of the aircraft alone standing at an impressive mere 3.8kg.
According to the company, the parcecopter takes a fully automated route and can be steered in any direction, meaning there is no need for the pilot to intervene. The parcel will be placed below the aircraft in a yellow container. DHL has developed a special air-transport container that is extremely lightweight and constructed to protect against rain, snow and dust, in order to optimally secure the goods during transport.
Although the parcelcopter’s application in the field of transport has some difficulties, its implementation is very promising, since it can perform missions at times and in places that other conventional modes of transport cannot achieve. The company's initial vision is that of expanding the drones’ service delivery to areas with poor road network infrastructure while providing humanitarian assistance to disaster-affected areas or war zones.
It’s no exaggeration to say that what was once was considered science fiction today is being implemented by DHL. The company is ready to ‘fly’ into a new era, having received permission from the German transport ministry and air traffic control authority for a restricted flight area that will only be used by its parcelcopter.
DHL is the global market leader in the logistics and CEP industry and “The logistics company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, national and international parcel delivery, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation as well as contract and e-commerce related solutions along the entire supply chain. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and around 315,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting environmental protection, disaster management and education.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenues of more than 55 billion euros in 2013.
For more information: www.dpdhl.com
