Latest news with #droneDelivery
Tahawul Tech
4 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Drone deliveries to see trial use in Abu Dhabi
The UAE took its first steps into autonomous aerial logistics, as several groups pool resources to trial drone deliveries and advance ambitions around smart mobility services. Aviation technology provider Lodd Autonomous and public postal company 7X stated the drone delivery pilot held in capital city Abu Dhabi is a significant advance for the nation's logistics sector. 'Autonomous drones introduce a transformative layer to urban delivery networks', Lodd Autonomous CEO Rashid Al Manai explained. The trial opens the potential for a single operator to 'manage multiple deliveries simultaneously', Al Manai said, highlighting the 'new level of scalability and responsiveness' the step would bring to the logistics sector. Lodd Autonomous and 7X worked with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office on the trial, advancing targets of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council involving integrated mobility set-ups. The trial also required collaboration with the General Civil Aviation Authority and Integrated Transport Centre. Humaid Saber Al Hameli, director of the centre's aviation transport division, explained airspace security and safety are priorities, with work ongoing to ensure regulations keep pace with developments in the unmanned aerial systems space. Lodd Autonomous and 7X pledged to maintain collaborations with regulators and industry players as drone delivery projects advance. Ultimately, Abu Dhabi aims to rely more heavily on drone-based deliveries in its wider logistics set-ups: it committed to keep progressing regulations and focus on infrastructure developments as it seeks to lead regional development of autonomous air mobility systems. Source: Mobile World Live Image Credit: Stock Image
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi conducts first drone parcel delivery in trial project
A drone has successfully delivered a parcel in Abu Dhabi for the first time using a winch-based system — as part of a pilot project to accelerate smart and autonomous logistics across the emirate. The landmark trial in Khalifa City integrates unmanned aerial systems into Abu Dhabi's transport ecosystem. The drone delivered a simulated package from a local post office to a drop zone demonstrating the feasibility of urban autonomous aerial delivery. The operation was backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), and conducted by aviation technology firm LODD and logistics holding group 7X. 'Ensuring the safety and security of our airspace remains a top priority,' said Humaid Saber Al Hameli, Director of the Aviation Transport Division at the Integrated Transport Centre. 'This pilot trial reflects the strength of collaboration between the public and private sectors, and represents a concrete step toward the future of smart aerial mobility in the emirate.' The initiative is part of the emirate's broader strategy to enable smart mobility under the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council (SASC), with support from ADIO's Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster. Regulatory oversight for the test was provided by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Integrated Transport Centre. Omran Malek, Head of the SAVI Cluster at ADIO, said the pilot demonstrated the type of forward-thinking strategies that add long-term economic and infrastructure value to Abu Dhabi. 'ADIO is proud to champion the development and rollout of cutting-edge logistics technologies that strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a global innovation hub,' he said. The pilot reflects growing efforts to localise advanced technology development and reinforce Abu Dhabi's role as a leader in future infrastructure. LODD and 7X say they will continue to work with regulators to fine-tune operational procedures and prepare for wider rollout of drone-based logistics services. 'Autonomous drones introduce a transformative layer to urban delivery networks,' said Rashid Al Manai, CEO of LODD. 'With one operator able to manage multiple deliveries simultaneously, the system brings a new level of scalability and responsiveness to the logistics chain.' Similarly, Tariq Al Wahedi, Group CEO of 7X, which oversees delivery provider EMX, said the milestone supports the UAE's smart mobility goals. 'By integrating autonomous aerial technology into EMX's national logistics ecosystem, we are enhancing operational reach and speed, and building a more adaptive, future-ready network.' The test flight is the first phase in a broader plan to deploy drone delivery across Abu Dhabi, aligning with regulatory efforts and infrastructure readiness to position the emirate as a regional hub for autonomous air mobility.
The National
5 days ago
- Business
- The National
First drone parcel delivery flight takes off in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi has launched its first test flight for a cutting-edge drone parcel delivery service, marking a significant step forward in efforts to modernise the emirate's transport network and boost efficiency. The test journey over Khalifa City, announced on Wednesday, involved a drone taking a package from a local post office to a designated drop zone using a secure winch-based delivery system. Such autonomous transport methods aim to reduce costs and cut delivery times, allowing providers to reach more customers by swapping the roads for the skies. The trial was completed under a partnership between Abu Dhabi Investment Office (Adio), aviation technology company LODD, and 7X, an investment holding group which includes Emirates Post and express delivery provider EMX. Omran Malek, head of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry at Adio, said: 'Adio is proud to champion the development and roll-out of cutting-edge logistics technologies that strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a global innovation hub. 'This pilot is a powerful example of the kind of local partnerships and forward-thinking strategies that drive long-term economic and infrastructure value for the emirate.' The scheme came under the strategy of the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council to harness advanced technology to improve logistics networks and promote smart mobility, with the support of the General Civil Aviation Authority and the Integrated Transport Centre. Work continues to put regulations in place to support the wider commercial use of autonomous air transport services. 'Ensuring the safety and security of our airspace remains a top priority for the Integrated Transport Centre,' said Humaid Saber Al Hameli, director of the Aviation Transport Division at the Integrated Transport Centre. 'We continue to advance the regulatory frameworks necessary to support the safe and effective integration of unmanned aerial systems into Abu Dhabi's wider transport ecosystem.' Rashid Al Manai, chief executive of LODD, said using drones allows an operator to carry out several deliveries simultaneously. Transport plans take flight In December, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, launched a drone delivery service in the emirate. Keeta Drone, a subsidiary of Chinese technology and retail company Meituan, has been awarded a licence by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) to deliver food and medicine across Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO) during the first phase of the project. Sheikh Hamdan became the first person to make an order through the platform from the Rochester Institute of Technology-Dubai, one of the landing points within DSO's drone delivery network. The drones have a height ceiling of 100 metres and a range of 3km, with a top speed of 22 metres per second. 'The future of robotic technologies and self-driving systems for retail services, and knowledge-based economic applications, innovation, digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence have all become a reality in Dubai,' said Sheikh Hamdan at the time. The sky is the limit The UAE is pressing ahead with ambitious transport plans, including drones, driverless taxis and air taxis. Test flights for self-flying air taxis were held in the UAE capital this month, in what was hailed by Abu Dhabi Media Office as a 'pivotal step towards integrating urban air mobility into everyday life'. The flights were organised by the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council and ADIO, in collaboration with Chinese drone manufacturer EHang and FinTech group Multi Level Group. In March, US air taxi company Archer Aviation said it was working towards launching a fleet of flying taxis before the end of the year, viewing the Gulf as the perfect launch pad to demonstrate its vehicles to the rest of the world. Abu Dhabi Aviation confirmed at the time that an agreement was made to introduce the first fleet of Archer's Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft this year.
Wall Street Journal
19-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The Future of Weather Forecasting Is Hyperlocal
On a sunny spring afternoon in Virginia Beach, Va., I'm waiting on a package delivery from a big-box retailer. But today, I'm not looking for a truck or the neighborhood postal carrier; I'm watching the sky. I see a small dark dot in the distance, and as it nears the object reveals itself clearly as a quadcopter-style drone. While it hovers nearby, a small box detaches from underneath and is lowered on a thin tether until it touches the ground, with surprising gentleness. The box sports an orange-and-white logo for DroneUp, the startup that's sending these packages flying through the air. The technology behind drone delivery has advanced significantly in just a few years, but its future depends in large part on using weather intelligence to ensure safe and efficient flights. Every flight takes off at the whims of the weather, particularly the winds. Gusting air can affect a drone's stability. Strong headwinds force it to perform the aerial equivalent of swimming upstream, depleting its batteries at a faster clip.
BreakingNews.ie
18-06-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Manna Air Delivery facing local opposition after lodging plans for new hub in Dundrum
Drone delivery service, Manna Air Delivery, has lodged contentious plans to establish a new aerial food delivery hub for Dundrum in Dublin 14. Manna Drones Ltd has lodged the plans with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council for the aerial delivery hub on lands at an existing car park site to the rear of Main Street and the rear of Holy Cross Church in Dundrum. Advertisement However, the plan is already encountering local opposition with one objector, Olive Donnelly, telling the council 'Drone use in residential areas poses serious risks. In Dublin 15, Manna Drones has already caused widespread disruption: persistent noise, low-altitude flights over homes and schools and repeated residents' complaint… these impacts are real, ongoing, and unacceptable'. This claim was contradicted by Manna Air Delivery on Wednesday with a spokesman stating 'in Dublin 15 we have received a warm welcome. We have received a total 77 complaints out of servicing an area of 150,000 people in over a year.' In the Dáil last week, opposition TDs warned of the growing noise disturbance by food delivery drones in Dublin, with Social Democrats TD Garry Gannon warning of a 'dystopian future' of drone activity. The application is Manna Drones Ltd's first such application for the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council area and in a planning report lodged with the plans, Downey Chartered Town Planners state that the proposal 'represents an appropriately informed and correct approach to the much-needed service at this location on a currently underutilised area of the existing car park site'. Advertisement The report states that Manna Drones is seeking to enhance and improve delivery services within the Dundrum area, and the benefits of enabling drone delivery from such a location include faster delivery, efficiency, cost savings, reduced environmental impact, increased accessibility and improved customer experience. Downey Chartered Town Planners state that the development has 'been scaled in a manner where any existing amenities of the area are not adversely affected in any way, nor any degradation of privacy arising from this subject development'. Downey Planning states that 'the proposed development is considered to be a positive contribution to the locality'. The report states that 'in an age where environmental consciousness is paramount, drone operations present a sustainable alternative to traditional delivery methods'. Advertisement The report adds: 'Indeed, electric drones offer a greener and more efficient choice than normal delivery methods, while ensuring delivery in a timely manner without burdening transport networks.' Already, four objections have been lodged against the scheme. In one, Anita Phelan told the council that the sound of the drones is another noise disturbance which will undoubtedly take from the serenity of the space close to Dundrum Church. Ms Phelan said: 'Please take on board people's need for quiet spaces which ultimately affects their quality of life, which surely ranks above quicker delivery service of burgers and lattes and refuse this application." Katherine Butterly and James Ryan live with their two young children at their home, 1.4km from Holy Cross Church car park. Advertisement They have told the council that 'we know that it is likely that the drones will pass over our home. We believe that this will pitch the interests of a few (companies who will profit from this proceeding) over the many thousands of local residents in this built up area who would oppose it'. Mrs Priscilla Lawrence Launois has told the council, 'I live very close to the back of Dundrum church and fear deliveries will pass overhead, causing excessive noise pollution'. A spokesman for Manna Air Delivery said that the company has never flown drones in Dundrum. He said, 'We are not planning to fly imminently in Dundrum." He said: 'In Dundrum planning permission has been applied for as per requirements but we would likely not be flying in the next few months.' He said that most recently, Manna Air Delivery has begun rolling out quieter propellers that reduce cruise-flight noise to 59 dBA—noticeably quieter than typical traffic outside a home, which averages between 70 and 75 dBA.
