Finland’s Posti will be the latest postal operator to test drones with commercial parcel deliveries in Helsinki this week.
The company will use a specially-developed ‘robotic helicopter’ to deliver small goods from Verkkokauppa.com, the country’s largest e-retailer, to the island of Suomenlinna, some 4km offshore, from tomorrow (Sept 2) until Saturday (Sept 5).
The drone will transport parcels from the observation deck of the Verkkokauppa.com store at Jätkäsaari, Helsinki, three times a day. Recipients will be notified personally when their parcels arrive.
Suomenlinna, a Unesco World Heritage Site comprising six small interlinked islands, mostly attracts tourists to the 18th century sea fortress but is also home to some 800 permanent residents, according to the Visit Finland website.
This will be the first time in Europe that a drone has been used for commercial deliveries in an inhabited urban environment, according to the company. The experiment only includes parcels of suitable dimensions (less than 3kgs) while all other mail, such as letters and publications, will be delivered by boat as usual.
The drone will be operated by Sharper Shape Ltd, a Finnish start-up launched in 2013. The experiment has been authorised by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi) operating under the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Posti said its experiment will be carried out as a non-line-of-sight operation in a populated urban environment, which puts high demands on the equipment and control system used. Apart from technical factors, flight safety is based on training and detailed methods of operation.
In the experiment, Posti will use a robotic helicopter, or Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), called Next Eagle, designed by Sharper Shape especially for Finnish conditions. The helicopter involves several technologically advanced solutions which enable safe flying in challenging conditions. A laser-based observation system which automatically connects with the helicopter steering system maximizes safety as it prevents collisions. The connection between the remote operator and helicopter is based on multiple parallel communications links, ensuring that the connection is never lost. In the experiment, the system has been adapted to Posti's transport operations.
"New technologies make online shopping quicker and easier for both senders and recipients. We want to experiment with different delivery options which are feasible in Finland and increase the customers' freedom of choice," said Jukka Rosenberg, Senior Vice President, Parcel and Logistics Services at Posti.
"We plan the flights as meticulously as manned flights. Safety is our highest priority. Finland is a leading country in this field, and cooperation between the authorities and companies is smooth," said Tero Heinonen, CEO at Sharper Shape, the company in charge of the flight operations.
"As an innovative company, we absolutely want to be involved in this interesting experiment and gain experience in new ways to deliver parcels to our customers. Furthermore, it is great that our customers have the opportunity to try out new technologies with us. Delivery speed is an important competitive factor, even in hard-to-reach areas," commented Esa Hjerppe, Web Sales and Marketing Director at Verkkokauppa.com.
Posti noted that for automated traffic, Finland constitutes one of the world's most flexible operating environments. Legislation and the various authorities strongly encourage progress in the field.
"Unmanned aviation is a new and fast-expanding segment which provides brand-new business opportunities. As an aviation authority, Trafi wants to encourage trial projects with unmanned aircraft. Our aim is to create an excellent environment for the testing, development and operation of unmanned aircraft," said Chief Advisor Jukka Hannola at Trafi.
Posti pointed out that it is also working on other innovative technologies. An automated robot-assisted warehouse to open in the fall of 2015 at Posti Logistics Center at Vantaa will enable even same-day dispatches for web stores. Also in the fall, the logistics center at Lieto will adopt a new sorting system based on next-generation technology designed specially for e-commerce. Posti's automation and robotics-related services include Parcel Point, which was introduced in 2011 and is now the most popular way or receiving products shopped for online.
People in Helsinki are welcome to watch the flights. If the drone cannot fly because of bad weather, the parcels will be delivered onboard the Suomenlinna ferry as usual.
