New record set for long-distance drone delivery
The Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) has announced that a new record has been set in long-distance drone delivery. Last Friday (5 May), a Nevada UAS Consortium (Team Roadrunner) set the record flying a fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) over 97 miles to Austin, Texas using cellular connectivity.
The UAV flew on a preplanned route from a “central Texas urban location” to the city of Austin, where it delivered its four-pound package. Although the drone flew autonomously, it was supported by visual observers located across the flight route who were equipped with enhanced radios and cell phone communications.
“Team Roadrunner “consisted of NIAS, Volans-i UAS, Latitude UAS, AUV Flight Services, and the ground and mobile visual observer support from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Worldwide campuses.
Dr. Chris Walach, Adjunct Assistant Professor at ERAU, commented: “Drone package delivery in an urban and remote environment is the wave of the future, and Nevada is leading and helping to grow this major commercial endeavour. These package delivery milestones prove that new UAS technology enables the safe integration of UAS into the NAS for long-distance and urban package deliveries.”
Steve Hill, Executive Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, added: “Creating a safe and thriving drone industry is an incredible challenge, especially when you couple that with drone package delivery. The loss of communications during a long flight is a real concern, but because of this mission, cellular technology can be relied upon to ensure that communication with a drone is not lost over a long-distance delivery. The record-breaking success of Team Roadrunner’s aerial package delivery mission proves that diligent testing in complex conditions will lead to drone delivery becoming reality.”
