Drones may soon deliver your next parcel

SingPost collaborates with Airbus Helicopters for aerial delivery system.

Airbus Helicopters inked a deal with Singapore Post, making the latter its logistics partner for the innovative Skyways parcel delivery project.

As a logistics partner for Skyways, SingPost will bring its expertise in software systems that control and manage delivery networks, customer-interface systems and real-time back-end links to a delivery system that serve the last mile. SingPost will also contribute its understanding of postal and eCommerce logistics trends to ensure the solutions developed will address the future logistics needs of cities around the world.

Skyways is an experimental project to develop a safe and economically viable aerial unmanned parcel delivery system for use in urban environments. To recall, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in February 2016 between Airbus Helicopters and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to conduct the Skyways proof-of-concept trial.

Currently, the research and development phase is now at an advanced stage, with an initial trial phase planned at NUS by early 2018. This will involve the transport of small packages within the university campus.

Airbus Helicopters is the overall Skyways system architect and provider, contributing its capabilities in drone platforms as well as its concept of future parcel delivery. This concept involves systems and structures that allow drones to land, dock with secure structures, discharge or take on payloads, and then fly off to other destinations.

Photo from Eduardofamendes from Wikimedia Commons.