Drone Delivery Canada successfully tests critical aspects of the Robin XL drone
Commercialisation in support of Covid-19 related activities and also remote area deliveries would commence for 2021 projects once testing is complete.
Drone Delivery Canada (DDC), which has been busy testing the Robin XL drone at the company’s Tranquility Base test range has announced that they have successfully tested numerous critical aspects of the drone.
The different aspects include communications system, navigational guidance system, autopilot system, take-off and landing performance, general flight stability and performance, multiple velocity vectors and altitude profiles, sound pressure levels, and battery consumption characteristics. All flight tests were conducted in accordance with the approvals provided by Transport Canada.
Pursuant to proposed regulations, the Robin XL would not require a formal aircraft type-certification when operated in specific lower-risk (rural & remote) locations, as is intended. Commercialisation in support of Covid-19 related activities and also remote area deliveries would commence for 2021 projects once DDC has completed testing, expected over the next three months. Flight approvals would be requested through Transport Canada following the straightforward and well-established Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) process that DDC has successfully used in the past.
The Robin XL is currently the company’s mid-size drone with an expected range of 60km and a payload capacity of 11.3kg (25lb). It is an electric, combination VTOL / fixed-wing drone. The aircraft itself includes an advanced, integrated parachute system which is expected to mitigate its risk profile and potentially allow for flight over people in the future, opening up an extended range of use cases. The cargo is stored safely and securely inside the drone, with temperature control capabilities. It is designed to work with the company’s proprietary and patented DroneSpotTM depot system, automated battery management system and FLYTE software system.
Future versions of the Robin XL are expected to feature the company’s innovated touchless cargo drop functionality. Similar to the Sparrow and Condor, in addition to carrying traditional cargo, the multi-mission drone has the ability to carry specialised camera/video systems as well as specialised sensors, further extending its use cases into additional commercial, industrial, government and military markets, beyond traditional cargo delivery. The turnkey solution is marketed in a managed service SaaS business model in Canada and as a licensed managed service internationally.
“We are very pleased with the ongoing successful testing of our Robin XL delivery drone. The Sparrow, Robin XL and Condor all have unique commercial use-case applications based on range and payload capabilities, and we are excited to have the Condor and Robin XL models coming to market soon. Robin XL and Condor pre-selling efforts are underway and market response has been very favourable in Canada and internationally, and we are working on a number of specific prospective opportunities for both,” said Michael Zahra, president and CEO of DDC.
