The skies of Dubai witnessed a cutting-edge BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone delivery trial for three weeks, undertaken by UAE-based logistics firm Jeebly LLC and Indian autonomous drone company Skye Air Mobility.
Conducted within the Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the tests showcased the Skye Ship One drone securely transporting an array of consumer products. This advanced drone is equipped with a proprietary connectivity system, an intuitive navigation system, and a plethora of safety features such as collision avoidance and parachute systems.
Captured footage from the trials displayed packages neatly tucked inside delivery compartments on the drones. After securing the goods, the drone took flight and, after some time, descended to the predetermined location for package drop-off.
All testing activities were held at the Dubai Experimental Zone located in DSO, a genuine real-world laboratory meant for the innovation and demonstration of robotics and autonomous systems. This testing ground was established as a segment of the Dubai Programme to Enable Drone Transportation, initiated in November 2021 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince and Chairman of The Executive Council.
Ahmad Hasan Belqaizi of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority stressed the monumental significance of these successful initial trials, highlighting their implications for regulatory and operational facets of drone-based commercial transport.
Raman Pathak, Jeebly’s CEO, praised Dubai’s advanced infrastructure, ideal for piloting new drone technologies. He remarked that such drone projects align with the sustainable objectives set by the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
Ankit Kumar, Skye Air’s Founder & CEO, accentuated the drone’s potential in reshaping the logistics domain, asserting that the Skye Ship One, after completing over 1,700 flights in India, represents a noteworthy advancement in logistics.
Lastly, Muammar Al Katheeri from the Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) welcomed various innovators to test their drone delivery systems at DSO, expressing elation over their collaboration with Skye Air and Jeebly.