Over the past few years, Royal Mail has been exploring the potential of drones to serve remote areas of the country, and now it is stepping up its plan for automatic air delivery The postal service company has put forward the vision of establishing 50 drone delivery routes in the next few years, and finally plans to deploy drones across the UK
Royal Mail has been working with windracers, a drone logistics company, to develop the technology and has conducted four separate trials in the past 18 months. This involves flying a twin engine UAV capable of carrying 100 kilograms (220 pounds) in different remote areas. The most recent test was conducted last month on the Shetland Islands in the North Atlantic between Britain and Norway.
Following these successful trials, Royal Mail has now announced plans for 50 permanent drone delivery routes to improve the reliability of mail delivery on the island. Royal Mail's current approach in these environments involves ferries, aircraft and land vehicles. It imagines that UAVs will improve the speed and efficiency of their operation and reduce their carbon footprint together with electric trucks.
The service still needs to be approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, but all planned routes will initially be established to deliver mail to the sily, Shetland, Orkney and Hebrides. These will be serviced by 200 drones, but Royal Mail said its long-term plan involves a fleet of 500 aircraft to deliver parcels in every corner of the UK.
Simon Thompson, chief executive of Royal Mail, said: "it is our goal to deliver on time regardless of the location of our customers or the weather, while protecting our environment. Even if we go anywhere, Royal Mail has the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per package, which will help further reduce our emissions."