Wing launches two new delivery drones, the Netherlands has to wait
Wing, a subsidiary of Alphabet, two new delivery drones. The drones are based on the Hummingbird that has hundreds of thousands of deliveries in Australia, Finland and the US. Drone delivery is growing, but it may still take years before the Netherlands makes any decisions.
Wing has a fleet of more than 200,000 delivery drones in the US, Australia and Finland. The company is one of the largest drone delivery services in the world.
Every order, from food to medication, is currently being delivered by the Hummingbird. The model is in between an airplane and a helicopter. Helicopter mode ensures a precise landing. Airplane mode ensures a quiet flight.
Wing recently two new designs familiar. Both drones are derived from the Hummingbird. One of the designs has a cargo hold. The appearance resembles a cargo plane.
growing pains
Neither are going to replace the Hummingbird, CEO Adam Woodworth told Bloomberg† Wingproces’s engineers used the prototypes to test the development process. Wing wants to be able to roll out new models quickly.
The ‘perfect’ delivery drone operation per district, city, country and continent. The drones must be quiet and safe, because in any other case a government will not allow flights.
If you have a drone that flies silently and safely through the countryside, this does not mean you can expand to an expansion. Trees, houses, air traffic and almost every other environmental factor affect noise and safety.
A transaction drone delivery service must be able to come up with new designs. Wing’s two prototypes are one to test and improve the current design process.
Drone care in the Netherlands
Drone delivery is in its infancy in the Netherlands. Since 2020, European regulations have made it possible to deliver autonomous drones for use, but it is not easy. You need a permit for every drone flight. the inspection of living environment and transport (ILT) only issues permits to parties who can ensure that the flight is safe.
Companies like Wing make a lot of flights. Administrative work is expensive. Hence, the Netherlands is currently unfavorable for drone delivery services.
This may change in the long run. U-space, part of the EU Aviation Safety Agency, is developing a framework for the management of autonomous aviation. ultimately, the framework should make it possible to automatically obtain authorization for autonomous flights. We are years away from the first implementation.
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