DHL parcelcopter launches initial operations for research purpose
27 / 02 / 2015
Plans to fly cargo by drone continue to make it off the computer screen and into reality, despite widespread dismissal by many.
DHL Parcel has announced plans to trial a project on the North Sea island of Juist, where it will fly medicine and other urgent items by ‘parcelcopter’ (pictured). The project will be the first time in Europe that a flight by an unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) will be operated outside of the pilot’s field of vision in a real-life mission.
The parcelcopter had its maiden flight in December last year. Since then it has been modiefied to better withstand the wind and marine-weather conditions of the North Sea.
The flight route to the island of Juist is roughly 12km and the flight will be completely automated at an altitude of 50 meters, the parcelcopter can travel up to 18 meters per second depending on wind speed.
A DHL spokesperson said: ‘Currently, there are no specific plans to use the parcelcopter in normal parcel delivery operations. The use of parcelcopters to deliver urgently needed goods to thinly populated or remote areas or in emergencies is simply an interesting option for the future.’
