Delivery drones get bigger, carry overseas freight

Global SourcesUpdated on 2023/12/01

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Natilus believes it can reduce the costs of air freight by half through the use of autonomous drones.

Natilus wants to start testing its drones this summer (Source: Natilus)

Drone delivery could take on a new meaning if an idea from Natilus gets off the ground. The company wants to use autonomous 200ft-long aircrafts to transport cargo overseas. If things go according to plan, these fixed-wing drones that are nearly as large as a Boeing 777 each would be able to transport up to 200,000 pounds.

Just as the likes of Amazon and Wal-Mart want to cut down on delivery costs with autonomous drones, Natilus targets to achieve something similar on a larger scale. The company believes it could reduce air freight costs by as much as 50 percent. It estimates the cost of operating one of its drones at $130,000 for 30 hours of flight. The prices compare favorably to a Boeing 747, although it is slower. Natilus said a Boeing costs $260,000 for 11 hours of flight.

These numbers place it somewhere in the middle of sending freight by sea and traditional aircrafts. A cargo ship costs $61,000 for a 504-hour trip, according to Natilus. A Natilus drone would simply add a new option for companies shipping goods, but more traditional options could still make economic sense.

One advantage working in Natilus' favor is that regulations wouldn't have to allow for the drones to fly over populated areas. The drones are designed to get goods from shore to shore, with land transportation taking over after that. A test flight is planned near San Francisco for this summer. The company wants a full-scale prototype ready by 2020, according to Engadget.

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Delivery drones get bigger, carry overseas freight

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