UK Pilots Drone Delivery to Remote Islands

If delivery drones are good enough for Walmart and Amazon Prime, they’re good enough for royalty...at least, in a sense.

Yesterday, the UK's Royal Mail announced it will become the first UK parcel carrier to pilot drone delivery to remote islands. The project brings together some of the nation’s biggest names in drone technology and is bankrolled by UK Research and Innovation, the national funding agency that focuses on science and research investments.

During a one-month trial, the autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will carry Covid-19 testing kits, personal protective equipment, and mail to communities in the Isles of Scilly.

• In December, Royal Mail became the first nationwide parcel carrier in the UK to make a drone delivery.

Flight conditions: The planned flight route will take a twin-engine autonomous drone—built by Windracers, a drone aid distribution startup—out of sight for 70 miles before it arrives at the islands’ airport...with up to 220 pounds of parcels in tow, equal to a “typical delivery round.” It was chosen in part for its ability to operate in iffy weather, like the area’s famous fog.

• From there, a smaller vertical takeoff and landing (VTO) drone—built by air mobility company Skyports—will transport the packages between islands.

Looking ahead: If the trial is a success, Royal Mail will likely tap UAVs to help postal service workers all over the UK deliver parcels and mail to extremely remote addresses.—HF