Postie of the future? Britain’s first DRONE mail service begins in Orkney as Royal Mail launches bots to carry letters and parcels between the Scottish islands
- Orkney has become the first place in Britain to have its mail delivered by a drone
- Post is transported from the village of Stromness to islands of Hoy and Graemsay
For many islanders, delays to the postal service are an inescapable part of life.
But that should no longer be the case for those living in Orkney, after it became the first place in Britain to have mail delivered by a drone.
The new Royal Mail service will see post transported from the Kirkwall delivery office to the village of Stromness, where drones will then transfer items to posties on the islands of Hoy and Graemsay for their regular routes.
Currently, mail arrives at Kirkwall Airport before being sent by plane or ferry to Orkney’s 19 inhabited islands.
But the challenging geography and weather conditions often result in delivery disruptions.
You’ve got mail! Orkney has become the first place in Britain to have post delivered by a drone
THE ROYAL MAIL DRONE TRIALS
In December 2020, Royal Mail made its first drone delivery to a remote lighthouse on the Isle of Mull using a smaller vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV).
In May 2021, it conducted a one-month trial from the Cornish mainland to the Isles of Scilly, using a larger fixed wing UAV to deliver essential mail, PPE and Covid testing kits to the islands.
In October 2021, it trialled scheduled, autonomous flights for two weeks between Kirkwall and North Ronaldsay (both in the Orkney Islands) with Windracers Ltd.
Royal Mail’s last trial carried mail between Tingwall Airport in Lerwick to Unst, Shetland Islands.
It is hoped the introduction of drones will significantly improve service levels and delivery times, while also reducing emissions and increasing safety levels.
The Orkney I-Port operation was launched by Royal Mail and Skyports Drone Services, in partnership with Orkney Council Harbour Authority and LoganAir.
It will initially operate for three months but could be continued on a permanent basis under existing regulatory frameworks due to Orkney’s unique landscape and the proximity of the islands to one another.
The flights will be carried out by a multirotor drone called the Speedbird Aero DLV-2, which is capable of carrying payloads of up to 13lbs (6kg).
Chris Paxton, head of drone trials at Royal Mail, said: ‘We are proud to be working with Skyports to deliver via drone to some of the most remote communities that we serve in the UK.
‘Using a fully electric drone supports Royal Mail’s continued drive to reduce emissions associated with our operations, whilst connecting the island communities we deliver to.”
Alex Brown, director of Skyports Drone Services, said: ‘By leveraging drone technology, we are revolutionising mail services in remote communities, providing more efficient and timely delivery, and helping to reduce the requirement for emissions-producing vehicles.
‘We’re pleased to be once again partnering with Royal Mail to demonstrate how drone operations can benefit UK logistics on this project.’
Royal Mail made the UK’s first drone package delivery on the Isle of Mull in 2020, using a Skyports unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The single package – a jumper from Selfridges – was carried to a remote lighthouse in Tobermory.
The flights will be carried out by a multirotor drone called the Speedbird Aero DLV-2, which is capable of carrying payloads of up to 13lbs (6kg)
The new Royal Mail service will see post transported from the Kirkwall delivery office to the village of Stromness, where drones will then transfer items to posties on the islands of Hoy and Graemsay for their regular routes
The Skyports drones are much smaller than others being trialled by Royal Mail, in partnership with London company Windracers (pictured)
The Skyports drones are much smaller than others being trialled by Royal Mail, in partnership with London company Windracers.
Looking more like planes, each of these twin-engine craft has a 32-foot wingspan and incorporates a ‘high-reliability’ autopilot system.
They can carry up to 220lbs (100kg) of mail of all shapes and sizes for two daily return flights between islands.
Last year Royal Mail announced that it was building a fleet of 500 of these drones to carry mail to remote communities all over the UK, including the Isles of Scilly and the Hebrides.
The postal service, which has already conducted successful trials over Scotland and Cornwall, will create more than 50 new postal drone routes over the next three years as part of its tie-up with Windracers.
Royal Mail wants to secure more than 50 drone routes supported by up to 200 drones over the next three years.
But longer term, the ambition is to deploy a fleet of more than 500 drones servicing all corners of the UK.
E-COMMERCE FIRMS ARE USING DRONES FOR DELIVERIES
Delivery firms are pioneering a host of new technologies to tackle the last mile of deliveries.
It is hoped the vehicles can cut the inefficiencies, and hence costs, of the final stage of delivery, in which packages are taken from a central hub to your door.
Amazon envisions making last mile deliveries with an army of autonomous drones that drop packages on your doorstep.
Amazon has billed the service ‘Prime Air’ and claims the drones will increase the overall safety and efficiency of its transport system.
Amazon envisions making last mile deliveries with an army of autonomous drones (pictured) that drop packages on your doorstep. It has billed the service ‘Prime Air’
Just one pilot could oversee several of the drones at once, meaning the firm could someday pay fewer people to make the same number of deliveries.
Another company, Starship Technologies, envisions its autonomous delivery service using land-based robots.
Each six-wheeled ‘ground drone’ is almost completely self-driving, and is constantly connected to the internet, using GPS to find its destination.
Walking on the pavement at about 4mph (3km/h), robots can complete local deliveries within five to 30 minutes from a local hub or retail outlet.
Self-driving cars are another last mile option being considered by some delivery companies.
Another company, Starship Technologies, envisions its autonomous delivery service using land-based robots (pictured)
Supermarket operator Kroger is testing a fleet of self-driving grocery cars that can carry as many as ten bags of shopping to your door.
Customers can order groceries via Kroger’s website or mobile app and select same-day or next-day delivery.
Customers who take advantage of Kroger’s driverless grocery delivery system will still have to walk to the curb outside their house to retrieve the groceries.
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