Drones are becoming one of the killer 5G apps we were all promised a decade ago
Tele2 partners with foodora and Aerit to launch food delivery using IoT and 5G connected drones. Deliveries will be made as far as possible to customers’ premises or gardens, lowered by cables from drones, and the first deliveries will already take place in the spring in Värmud, a suburb of Stockholm.
The operator is working with Nokia and AirForestry to thin forests from the air using high-capacity six-meter-wide drones. These are controlled by a 5G private wireless network and are expected to be deployed in commercial forestry if trials are successful later this year. The drone will be controlled from a portable shed with his 5G antenna positioned to cover the area to be thinned. Mobile solutions make it easy to set up wherever you need it or where there is no public airwaves or other alternative technologies.
Tele2’s 5G will support foodora Air’s electric drone fleet, which provides food delivery services from several restaurants in the Stockholm suburb of Värmud. Operators provide continuous connectivity to drones based on 5G IoT. Drones, supported by 5G, require both short response times and the ability to send and receive large amounts of data to safely handle deliveries.
Aerit has developed advanced drones that are integrated with foodora’s technology platform to create an efficient delivery experience. Värmdö will start delivering in May, and food can be ordered through the foodora app. The goal is to expand to more regions in Sweden and allow more locations to access the same services available in major cities.
Delivery flights conducted beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) provide on-demand access to goods and services to approved households within Aerit’s 100 square kilometer coverage area.
This is ushering in a new era in the way people receive deliveries, and we believe we will see many more applications in other industries,” said Stefan Trampas, Head of Business at Tele2. I am. “Our partnership with foodora demonstrates how we can leverage our 5G connectivity and expertise to power the future of delivery services in a simple, sustainable and smart way, while providing exceptional experiences for our customers. A perfect example.”
Greener options than alternatives
The drone has a range of 21 km and emits 2 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. This compares to traditional gasoline- or diesel-powered delivery vehicles, which emit 143 grams and 110 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, respectively. The maximum delivery distance is 12km and the loading capacity is 4kg. Aerit’s Nimbi drone also features a unique winching system that allows it to both pick up and return packages without the need for support infrastructure.
“Technology and connectivity have the potential to break through many of the limitations that currently exist in rural areas, where access to a variety of services and products is decreasing due to rapid urbanization,” Trampas added.
“We are proud to be the first in Europe to launch full-scale drone deliveries and are excited to have Tele2 and Aerit as partners on this exciting journey. Home delivery is a matter of democracy. No matter where you are in the country, you should be able to quickly get what you need, such as medicine or food. It should not be available only to people who choose to settle in big cities.” said Daniel Gustafsson Rava, foodora operations director.
“We are excited to be working with foodora and Tele2 to accelerate the adoption of drone delivery across Europe. It means our mission to provide access to goods and services while reducing costs is a leap forward into the future,” said Aerit CEO Alexander Perrien. “Drone delivery is here and this partnership will be the foundation for Aerit to quickly expand.”
