FlyingBasket’s heavy payload cargo drone FB3 has completed the first urban area transport flight operation in Europe, taking a step towards more urban air mobility services in the future.
The flight took place in Torino, Italy in collaboration with Poste Italiane and Italian technology company, Leonardo. Two heavy lift drones were used to transport packages over a 3.9km distance (7km total flight) from Poste Italiane’s co-ordination centre across the Stura di Lanzo river. Each drone carried 26kg, but they are designed with 100kg payload capacities.
One of the drones featured a cargo compartment, which is designed for easier cargo handing. The other drone had a sling payload with a cargo hook, which enables delivery without the need for landing infrastructure.
FlyingBasket CEO, Moritz Moroder, said:The future of logistics lies with autonomous cargo transportation. This mission demonstrated the incredible potential of cargo drones in metropolitan areas. Today we transport 100kg with a single drone, in the future a fleet of autonomous drones will not only be able to keep up with rising logistics demand, but also increase flexibility and reduce delivery time.
FlyingBasket’s eVTOL cargo drone has been used commercially since 2020 to complete logistical missions in sparsely populated areas. Having now completed the first successful European flight in an urban environment, FliyingBasket is pushing forward the development of urban air mobility, providing drone solutions for safety-critical environments.
