An advancement in urban logistics has been made with the successful completion of India’s first intra-city drone delivery trials in Bengaluru by FedEx and Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
The trials, which were carried out under the FedEx SMART Center, established a mid-mile drone delivery link between Electronic City Phase II and a point close to Kempegowda International Airport. The research showed how airborne logistics may greatly increase productivity and lessen reliance on road transportation.
The study claims that a shorter aerial route of 39–42 km substituted a 53 km road trip that normally takes more than 60 minutes, cutting delivery time to just 21 minutes. With permission from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the drones flew in restricted areas, such as Airport Yellow and Red Zones.
The project emphasizes how drone-based logistics may improve supply chain efficiency, reduce delivery times, and ease traffic. Additionally, it is a component of FedEx’s larger strategy to include cutting-edge technology like data-driven logistics, electric mobility, and aerial robotics.
According to experts, these experiments may open the door for high-speed, scalable distribution networks in India’s cities.
Source – CNBC-TV18
