Building a Scalable Drone Delivery Architecture

BACKGROUND

Drones have become an integral part of modern society, revolutionizing various sectors with their versatile applications and capabilities. Beyond filming and recreation, drones are used to inspect infrastructure such as bridges, towers, railways, and power lines. They can capture high-resolution images and collect data, including thermal imaging and assessments of physical integrity.

Drone technology and battery life are continually improving, enabling drones to undertake hour-long flights with payloads. Tests for using drones in the delivery of food and small staples are currently underway in various areas. The FAA recently granted several provisional licenses to fly within semi-urban areas within a 10-15 mile radius, which is a very exciting development. These flights are also referred to as Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight (BVLOS) flights.

BVLOS flights for deliveries are typically conducted from central hubs in a 'star configuration" In such as set up, the payloads are manually attached to the drone, and deliveries are made using a zip line or by landing at a remote aerial terminal, where they are manually off-loaded for the client to pick up. Such operations are still quite costly per flight and are mainly limited by the need to drop a zip line over a habitable porch, which might pose a risk to the people living there.

Introducing The Universal Drone Docking Stations

Drones used for long flight times and long-distance missions are typically larger and heavier. These larger delivery drones are often stored in custom-built docking stations, commonly referred to as Drone Docking Stations. Some manufacturers offer ready-made "Drone-In-A-Box" solutions that also have the capability to charge the drone.

Given the variety of delivery drones, there is an emerging need for universal drone docking stations. These stations can accommodate any type of drone, providing each with its specific charging requirements and data connections to upload and download software and mission data.

The benefits of such universal docking stations include their weatherproof design and autonomous operation. This allows take-offs and landings to be managed as part of the BVLOS (Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight) command center. Consequently, both the flight path management and the take-off and landing processes can be handled remotely.

Introducing the Integrated Vertiport

While taking off from a Drone airport or Universal Drone Docking Station are an easy notion to understand, the delivery side at the clients side is still quite a challenge. Drones have 3 ways to deliver a package:

• Hoover the Drone low and drop the package
• Hoover the Drone and lower the package by a zip-line
• Land and manually release or pick up the package manually

The options of flying low is typically deemed too dangerous so industry players such as DroneUp , Zipline and other have elected to use a zip-line methodology. Other company such as Strix Drones have elected to solve the issue of #lastmiledelivery by introducing an integrated Vertiport.

The Vertiport is an integrated station that can facilitate the safe landing of any drone on a 2x2 meter elevated landing pad and in addition, facilitate the release and storage of the package in secure holding lockers for later pick up.

The Advantages of Vertipads

Vertipads can be considered a combination of a Drone Docking Station and a delivery locker. They offer significant operational advantages for delivery operators:

• The Vertiport can be placed in a predefined location with a secure flight corridor to and from the nearest hub. This eliminates the need to configure a specific flight path for each delivery and client independently.
• The Vertiport allows packages to be delivered 24/7 without requiring the client to be present for manual off-loading and collection. Packages are securely stored until the client arrives at their convenience to pick them up using a delivery code.
• The Vertiport can also be used for the collection of returned items, saving the drone's empty return leg and increasing the overall economic value of each flight.
• The Vertiport can charge drones landing between legs, effectively increasing the fleet's uptime and extending its delivery range.

In Conclusion

Drones are here to stay and will increasingly be used in civil, industrial, and defense applications. Considering regulations, technology, and cost factors, drone delivery operators should integrate both Universal Drone Stations and Vertiports into their operational architecture.

This integration helps maintain optimal uptime for the drone fleet, simplifies and secures flight path planning, enables 24/7 operations, and offers clients the convenience of picking up their deliveries at their preferred times.

Finally, Vertiports also facilitate the return of goods, provide drone charging, and enable the pickup of returned items. As a result, Vertipads offer a clear and compelling return on investment (ROI) path.

1. #DroneDelivery
2. #AerialLogistics
3. #LastMileDelivery
4. #AutonomousDrones
5. #SmartLogistics
6. #FutureOfTransport

About Strix Drones

Strix Drones (https://www.strixdrones.com) is a leading innovator in drone docking technology, specializing in the development of advanced universal drone docking stations and vertiports for both military and commercial applications. Founded in Israel and now proudly manufactured in Dayton, Ohio, Strix Drones is committed to revolutionizing drone operations with solutions that enhance efficiency, autonomy, and safety.

Strix's state-of-the-art systems support seamless drone charging, automated inspections, and secure BVLOS (Beyond-Visual-Line-Of-Sight) deliveries. With a focus on adaptability and future-proofing, Strix Drones empowers users to maximize the operational and financial benefits of their drone programs, ensuring 24/7 availability and optimal uptime for fleets in challenging environments.

Authored by Ian Sorek ,

Head of business development for Strix Drones Ltd.