The delivery of auto parts is taking to the skies. A group of car dealerships in Wayne, Michigan, has launched a trial of an autonomous drone delivery service to transport auto parts across the Detroit metropolitan area, as part of a program to reduce service and post-sales support times for their customers.
This initiative, supported by a $740,000 grant from the Michigan Advanced Air Mobility Activation Fund, will allow the dealerships to deliver the most requested parts within a 12-mile radius, approximately 20 kilometers, using drones. The Michigan Advanced Air Mobility Activation Fund is a public fund created to accelerate the development of such technologies in the state, demonstrating the government’s commitment to innovation and technological advancement.
A recent test flight was conducted, with a drone taking off from a dealership with a small box on board and landing in the parking area of another nearby facility. Currently, employees at the two locations must travel between sites in case of urgent parts movement or use a truck, which has to contend with traffic, a problem that drones do not face.
The test flight was conducted over a short distance, but they hope to extend the service to other locations, including a Lincoln dealership in Dearborn, covering a wider geographic area in the coming months.
The drone used in the trial has an integrated emergency parachute system and is specifically designed to maintain a stable cargo compartment during aerial transport. Tyler Bruder, commercial development manager at Blueflite, the drone provider involved in the project, explained that the drone’s parachute system prevents it from crashing in case of an emergency, ensuring the safe transportation of auto parts. The drone’s design also prioritizes stability, minimizing the risk of damage to the cargo during flight.
Mark Hafield, parts manager at Jack Demmer Ford, commented on the initiative, saying: “This innovative program allows us to move critical components faster than ever, contributing to reduced repair delays, improved efficiency, and getting our customers back on the road sooner.”
Di certo è un’idea interessante e in futuro non troppo lontano potremmo vedere anche da noi volare sopra le nostre teste un drone che sta trasportando un fanale posteriore di ricambio o un nuovo pomello del cambio.
As the trial progresses, they plan to extend the drone delivery service to other locations. The state of Michigan is supporting the development of such technologies through the Advanced Air Mobility Activation Fund, which also supported green campus initiatives.
For now, the focus is on testing and refining the drone delivery system, with the goal of providing faster and more efficient service to customers in the Detroit area. The dealerships are working closely with Blueflite to develop a system that is both reliable and efficient.