DHL has launched a unique pilot project that will, for the first time worldwide, ensure urgent delivery of medications and other highly time sensitive goods delivered to customers by an unmanned aircraft dubbed the DHL parcel-copter.
The research project is a first in Europe and represents the only time in the country where a flight by an unmanned aircraft will be operated outside of the pilot’s field of vision in a real-life mission. By taking this step, DHL moves to the next phase of the parcel-copter research project that was launched in December 2013.
Since its maiden flight last December, the DHL parcel copter has been modified to perform this specific type of mission. The research team optimized such aspects as flight duration, flight range and speed to address the special challenges posed by the wind and marine-weather conditions of the North Sea – Juist Island – where the parcel copter delivers urgently needed goods at certain times of the day.
The technical innovations of the DHL parcel copter include extended flight duration and range: The flight route to the island of Juist is roughly 12 kilometers. The flight will be completely automated for the first time. This means that a pilot does not have to take any action at all during any phase of the flight. For safety reasons and in compliance with the requirements set by the responsible agencies, the DHL parcel copter will be constantly monitored during the flight by a mobile ground station in Norddeich so that manual action can be immediately taken in real time if a malfunction or emergency occurs. The ground station will also maintain constant contact with air traffic controllers.
To ensure that the DHL parcelcopter operates reliably, flies safely and always lands at the right location, an autopilot with automated takeoff and landing functions was developed. This system is robust and reliable, and has been extensively tested. At an altitude of 50 meters, the parcel copter can travel up to 18 meters per second depending on wind speed.
It will primarily transport medications from the mainland to the island of Juist at certain times during the week and on weekends. This delivery option will focus on times when such alternatives as ferries and flights are not available.
The parcel copter will take off from the harbor in Norddeich. It will land at a launch pad and landing field on the island of Juist reserved specifically for the parce lcopter. From there, a DHL courier will then deliver the goods to the recipient.
Currently, there are no specific plans to use the DHL parcelcopter in normal parcel delivery operations. This phase of the research project will test and evaluate the possibilities of such delivery methods.