- Title: Estonian company tests drone delivery of drinks to beachgoers
- Date: 1st August 2017
- Summary: PHONE SCREEN SHOWING SMS BEING SENT TO PLACE ORDER
- Embargoed: 15th August 2017 15:52
- Keywords: drone delivery drinks beach
- Location: VILJANDI, ESTONIA
- City: VILJANDI, ESTONIA
- Country: Estonia
- Topics: Science
- Reuters ID: LVA0026SBRPDL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: For two weeks of summer, beachgoers in the southern Estonian town Viljandi had their cold beverages delivered to them by a drone, as part of tests by a local company aimed at mastering a system of drone deliveries which keeps the machine at a safe distance from humans.
The system is based around a hub located near the delivery sites, which the company, Cleveron, calls "nests".
Delivery is triggered by a text message, which also initiates payment. A drone is sent to the nearest nest with the delivery - this time cold drinks, but Cleveron aims to expand the system beyond that.
For safety, the company has minimised contact between their drones and the customer by designing a special delivery pod, or nest, which is also part of a precision guidance system for the drone and allows for delivery that doesn't rely on GPS alone.
The project's manager from Cleveron, Mihkel Ilp, says the aim of the system is to cut costs of delivery at the final stage.
"Basically, the last mile service, that's the most costly bit of the whole logistics part. And the statics and trials have shown that when comparing a drone delivery service, the last mile service, to a normal courier service where people carrying bag from the post office for example to your home the costs are, let's say, one dollar per service which is offered by person to 20 cents for service offered by a drone," Ilp said.
Despite having developed their technology to a level which allows for implementation, the company is waiting for the right legislation regulating unmanned delivery of goods by the European Union. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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