TechEagle launches Vertiplane X3, fastest multipurpose hybrid Indian drone

The product aims to bring healthcare to the hinterlands, meet needs of maritime and defence sectors, and strengthen conventional logistics supply chain

TechEagle, a deeptech firm building drone logistic services, said it has launched ‘Vertiplane X3’, the fastest hybrid e-VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) drone ever made in India. TechEagle's product  will be deployed for various use cases across industries such as providing better healthcare access to the remote areas, apart from hyperlocal and e-commerce requirements. The product also aims to also address the needs of maritime and defence sectors, and strengthen conventional supply chain with improved and faster accessibility.

TechEagle's Vertiplane X3 was unveiled by Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation at the E-commerce and Logistics Summit 2022. It is an electric vertical take-off and landing (e-VTOL) drone that has hybrid capabilities of a helicopter and an aeroplane, allowing it to take off and land vertically like a helicopter without the need for a runway in a space as small as 5m x 5m. When the drone reaches the cruise height and speed, it operates like an aeroplane until the destination and switches back to helicopter mode to land.

"Last-mile logistics is one of the most complex logistical issues, not just in India but all across the world,” said Vikram Singh Meena, founder and CEO of TechEagle. “It gets more difficult in hilly terrain and sometimes people die just because the medical essentials couldn't reach them on demand. To address this problem, we're coming up with a solution which will solve all pain points.”

After facing several challenges pertaining to inefficient logistical networks and debilitating healthcare conditions across the country, the TechEagle founders set out to adress the issue. They are doing it  by enabling a drone delivery network that would facilitate an efficient mid-mile and last-mile logistics network.

The firm said the last-mile delivery in India faces significant challenges due to inefficiency in the supply chain and other geographical factors such as rugged and uneven roads. Other issues include on-road navigation challenges, impromptu climate changes and emergency deliveries in hard-to-reach areas. TechEagle’s advanced drone delivery solutions overcome the problem of various geographical and logistical issues. These include lack of visibility in hilly areas, high delivery costs, outdated technology, and inaccessibility through roads and railway networks.

Apart from the industries, many niche problems, like unavailability of basic amenities in hard-to-reach areas, delay in deliverance of healthcare cargo like blood, and last-mile urgent deliveries associated with a poor logistics network can be rectified by deploying drones.

"Our product is made to stand out in the global market for its capabilities, safety features, and right economics,” said Meena of TechEagle. “The capabilities and product finish are something that people usually don't expect from Indian products, and this particular machine is truly made in India."

The firm aims to deliver healthcare cargo like blood, platelets, anti-venom, medicines and vaccines. It said these can an be delivered to areas that otherwise receive medicines after a prolonged time resulting in unnatural deaths of patients and victims. For e-commerce, TechEagle  aims to solve the last-mile and mid-mile delivery issues that otherwise require an elaborate and complex logistics network.

For maritime, the drone can be used to send cargo to and fro the port and ship up to 100 km effectively. In the area of defence, TechEagle said its latest drone can be used to transport  cargo on-demand from one base camp to higher posts or another base.