Verizon has stunned industry experts by announcing that it will be winding down and ending operations of its Skyward drone management business in the coming weeks, shuttering a subsidiary it recently purchased in 2017. The shock of discovering of Verizon’s …
Garuda Aerospace, an Indian drone manufacturer based in Chennai, is in the midst of a flurry of preparations. Drones from the company will be employed in a first-of-its-kind, real-world trial in India, where drones will be used to speed up the grocery delivery process (by app-based delivery services). Garuda’s drones will be among those flown to restock inventory between seller-run storefronts and a drop point, according to food tech and delivery business Swiggy. The delivery executive would then transport the merchandise to the consumers’ location. These trails are scheduled to begin in Bengaluru and subsequently go to Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). WION met with Garuda Aerospace’s Founder and CEO, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, to learn more about the work being done to make this trial possible. According to him, grocery delivery trials will take place in Bengaluru and Hoskote, a town around 30 kilometres from the former, in the coming weeks. He went on to say that the drone deliveries would be for genuine customers, not dummy orders. To limit the amount of licences and approvals required for such a trial, we’re starting in Hoskote, a smaller town with a lower population density. “While 80% of the experiments will feature drones transporting groceries from a seller location to a pickup point (where the executive will pick it up), the remaining 20% will involve drones delivering groceries last-mile,” he stated. The ‘Garuda delivery drone,’ as it is known, would be pre-programmed with the drop location’s coordinates and would have to deliver the payload there. The model being utilised for such deliveries, according to Garuda Aerospace, can fly at a high speed of 75kmph, at a maximum height of 950 metres, carrying up to 15kg of payload, and will cover deliveries within a 5-15km radius. When asked why pilots are needed, Agnishwar explained that the drones are trained to execute the job autonomously while avoiding impediments like electricity lines, birds, and trees. The entire operation, though, would be overseen by their company’s drone pilots, who would interfere if necessary. The company is also in contact with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to obtain the required licences for drones to deliver food to clients who live on their property. “We intend to employ one type of drone in which the cargo is dropped to the ground while the drone stays in the air. The drone will land and place the payload on the ground in another variation. Options such as picking up groceries from the rooftop or other open areas in residential complexes are being explored. We’re also considering putting facial recognition into the drone in the case of direct delivery to customers, to ensure that only the intended consumer receives the order “Agnishwar elaborated. Garuda said it aims to build roughly 50,000 drones in India next year after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the company’s drone manufacturing facility in February. “We’ve also received signed confirmation …
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced an application deadline for the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drones and drone components on Thursday. It stated that the application form must be submitted by May 20, 2022. It added in a press statement that manufacturers who have met the PLI eligibility criterion for FY 2021-2022 can apply. For drones and drone components, the PLI plan requires an annual sales turnover of Rs 2 crore for drone companies and Rs 50 lakhs for drone component manufacturers, as well as a value addition of above 40% of sales turnover. By June 30, 2022, the final list of PLI beneficiaries may be available. On September 30, 2021, the Central Government announced the PLI plan for drones and drone components. A total incentive of Rs 120 crore will be distributed over three financial years under the scheme, nearly double the combined …
A swarm of ten bright blue drones takes off in a bamboo forest in China, then swerves its way through the woods, avoiding tangled branches, bushes, and uneven ground as it autonomously navigates the optimum flying path.The experiment, led by …
For the Royal Australian Navy’s unmanned air vehicle (UAV) needs, Canberra has decided to go with a sole-source acquisition (RAN). With the SEA 129 Phase 5 competition cancelled, Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100 will fill the shipborne marine function. “Schiebel Pacific welcomes …
IIT Guwahati will offer drone operations, training, maintenance, data collection, and application courses in a variety of industries. The Recorder’s Certificate Class Course (RCCC) will last one week, while the officer’s class will last four days. The Indian Institute of …
EnforceAir, the flagship product of a leading C-UAS provider, has been named the best in the Unmanned Aerial Solutions (Drones) category. MCLEAN, Va., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ RA’ANANA, Israel and MCLEAN, Va., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ RA’ANANA, Israel and MCLEAN, …
Ricky Sandhu, an Indian-origin entrepreneur, has demonstrated the first-ever airport for air taxis and delivery drones in the United Kingdom, as the buzz about flying taxis grows. The ‘Air-One’ in Coventry, the world’s first fully operational airport for electric vertical …
Noise pollution is a difficult-to-ignore nuisance with drones, as these otherwise incredibly helpful aircraft are quite loud due to their propellers. With its next-generation silent drone, this Florida-based business hopes to tackle that problem and contribute to a quieter urban …
HUSH is at the forefront of drone technological advancements. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIA, MAY 2nd, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — HUSH Aerospace and DRONEDEK have launched a collaboration. DRONEDEK is known for its “future mailbox,” which will offer secure deposit of autonomously and traditionally …