Logistics company Delhivery tests autonomous logistics drones in Deoria

Logistics services provider Delhivery on Sunday said the company has completed the testing of its autonomous Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) drone technology at Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. During the live demonstration, a Delhivery drone carrying medicines completed a pre-programmed 12 kilometres (km) flight path autonomously in about 12 minutes. 

“The mission, which would typically take up to 40 minutes by road due to infrastructure challenges, was completed in approximately 12 minutes, highlighting the potential of aerial logistics to transform last-mile delivery in India,” the company said in a statement. 

The showcase, held in the presence of Shashank Mani, the Member of Parliament from Deoria, was executed by Delhivery Robotics India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Delhivery.  

The drone showcased is part of Delhivery’s prototype drone fleet, which is being developed using proprietary technology and is designed to operate in challenging terrains and weather conditions. It’s capable of carrying payloads up to 5 kilograms (kgs) over distances of 60-90 km on a single charge. The company said that the aircraft features a hybrid design, taking off