Parcelcopter trials were a success, says DHL

Deutsche Post DHL has claimed that a recent three-month test of its third-generation Parcelcopter drone was “successful”, with autonomous cross-country flights implemented under challenging alpine conditions. The trial run was conducted between January and March in the Bavarian community of Reit im Winkl and, according to Deutsche Post DHL, it was “the first time worldwide that a parcel service provider has directly integrated a parcelcopter logistically into its delivery chain”.

In a statement issued today (9 May), Deutsche Post DHL said: “Private customers in Reit im Winkl and up on the Winklmoosalm plateau were invited to test out the specially developed Packstations, dubbed the Parcelcopter Skyport. During the three month trial period, they could simply insert their shipments into the Skyport to initiate automated shipment and delivery per Parcelcopter. A total of 130 autonomous loading and offloading cycles were ultimately performed.”

As part of the trial, the latest version of the Parcelcopter had to deal with heavier loads, longer distances and the challenge of delivering in an alpine region, with its high altitude and changeable weather conditions.

According to Deutsche Post DHL: “The drone’s cargo was typically either sporting goods or urgently needed medicines and it arrived at the Alm station within just eight minutes of take-off. The same trip by car takes more than 30 minutes during winter.”

Jürgen Gerdes, Management Board Member for Post – eCommerce – Parcel at Deutsche Post DHL , commented: “We’re the first worldwide who are able to offer a transport drone – Parcelcopter at DHL – for end-customer delivery. With this combination of fully automated loading and unloading as well as an increased transport load and range of our Parcelcopter we have achieved a level of technical and procedural maturity to eventually allow for field trials in urban areas as well.”