South Korea: Skyports Drone Services Collaborates with RigiTech to launch inter-island deliveries
UK-based Skyports Drone Services, announced this week the launch of a new project in Yeosu City, South Korea, for the delivery of pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs by drone, in partnership with RigiTech, reports a press release. Skyports new partner is a Swiss company, founded in 2018, that focuses on creating fully-integrated drone delivery solutions.
The Yeosu City project, supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MoLIT), Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (KIAST) and Yeosu City government, will provide inter-island drone deliveries within the coastal Yeosu region of Korea. There are 45 inhabited islands.
The release explains, “It is the first of a series of flight trials and proof-of-concept projects conducted by a drone services consortium made up of Skyports Korea, Marine Drone Tech and RGB Lab.” The initial phase of the project, first launched in June, will continue until November.
Phase one of the project sees regular flights operated between the Yeosu mainland and three islands (Gaedo, Geumodo, Songdo), providing an airbridge for communities in hard-to-reach parts of the region.
The release continues, “Through the five-month project, the consortium aims to demonstrate the viability, safety and benefits of drone operations, and highlight how regular services can improve welfare, access, and connectivity for island residents and local businesses.”
The operation will be BVLOS flown with distances of between 20km and 60km. Using a mobile application which has been developed for the project, island residents are to be able to request the delivery or collection of a range of cargo, including:-
: Pharmaceutical goods (with the intent to carry more complex medical goods, such as pathology samples, in the future).
: Restaurant food and groceries.
: Fresh seafood (such as sea urchins and octopus), caught by islanders and sold to restaurants on the mainland.
For an aging island population, the service provides a link to the mainland, bringing improved access to medical care and the delivery of foodstuffs, as well as the opportunity to sell their seafood and produce at a more competitive price. The consortium will also explore the viability of postal deliveries in order to further improve access and connectivity levels for island residents.
This project will be conducted using RigiTech’s Eiger drone system, Skyports new light payload eVTOL aircraft. The release states, “The Yeosu City project is the first commercial outing for the RigiTech Eiger since the collaboration began and follows months of extensive flight testing. The Eiger has been selected due to its large volume 3kg payload and long distance BVLOS capability, which makes it well suited to the Yeosu region. The craft joins the Swoop Aero Kookaburra III and Kite in the Skyports fleet and will support the drone operator’s scale-up and contingency planning.
Mitchell Williams, Korea Country Manager at Skyports Drone Services, commented, “Where better to launch our new partnership with RigiTech than in our newest market? The collaboration alongside our Korea consortium will prove how drone deliveries can connect remote communities in a meaningful and sustainable way.”
Adam Klaptocz, co-Founder and CEO of RigiTech, added, “Our technology has been proven and recognised for its reliability, and now it’s time for it to shine in the landscape of the Yeosu region. We’re excited to push the boundaries of BVLOS flights in new continents.”
A Yeosu City official remarked, ”Yeosu City lies in a logistically vulnerable area, so this demonstration project aims to provide convenience for island residents.”
Adam Klaptocz
Phase two of the project will review the benefits and use cases of the project and aim to scale the service, making it available in more locations and on a permanent basis.
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(Images: Skyports)
