Autonomous drones are poised to revolutionize last-mile delivery systems in Dubai next year, enhancing speed and convenience for consumers. Attendees at the recent Gitex Global 2023 event were provided with a demonstration of how this innovative approach would work. They placed orders for meals and beverages, and within four minutes, their items were delivered to a designated kiosk serving as the landing point.
This pilot project was showcased in collaboration with Dubai-based FEDS Drone-powered Solutions (FEDS) and the Chinese company Meituan UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems).
Rabih Bou Rached, the founder and CEO of FEDS, expressed that drone delivery presents a superior alternative to traditional human delivery, as it offers greater speed due to the absence of air traffic, resulting in quicker order fulfillment. He revealed that a full-scale, citywide drone delivery operation is expected to launch within the next two years. A pilot test area situated in a residential community with low-rise buildings is anticipated to become operational by the following year.
Notably, the drone delivery system has already been employed in three major Chinese cities over the past two years. The setup showcased at Gitex Global was modeled after Meituan UAS' services in China, featuring a pick-up kiosk (landing port) at the Dubai World Trade Centre's parking area. The drone operated along a predetermined route from a launchpad to the kiosk, ensuring safe and straightforward navigation.
Initially, the trial period will see between 10 and 20 drones in operation, with the potential for hundreds of drones to be deployed for a citywide operation in Dubai.
The drone itself boasts six rotors and has dimensions measuring 1370 x 1370 x 450 mm. It can carry payloads of up to 2.5 kilograms, sufficient to transport a family-size pizza. Communication capabilities are supported by 5G, 4G, and WiFi, allowing the drone to operate within a 10-kilometer radius.
Its ascent speed reaches up to 10 meters per second, and it can descend at a rate of up to 6 meters per second. The drone can perceive obstacles up to 50 meters forward and 15 meters upward. It can operate in moderate rain and across temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius.
The drone is complemented by a landing port that can be flexibly deployed in various settings, including events like Gitex Global, as well as in office, residential, and commercial areas. Rached emphasized that the initial step is to obtain certification for BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight), enabling drone operations at distances outside the normal visual range of a human pilot.
Meituan UAS initiated its work on drone delivery solutions in 2017, with a focus on providing services within 15 minutes for users within a three-kilometer radius. As of August 2023, the company had successfully completed over 184,000 deliveries of meals, beverages, and other daily necessities to customers in three Chinese cities.
In parallel, Dubai Municipality (DM) confirmed at Gitex Global that it is actively engaged in mapping the airspace in the city to plan routes and landing locations for drones. They have already completed this exercise in Dubai Silicon Oasis and intend to replicate it for the entire city. Wesam Lootah, CEO of Corporate Support Services Sector at DM, explained that the three-dimensional zoning of airspace and airway development will facilitate the accelerated adoption of drones for various applications in Dubai.