New Delhi: IIT Madras, working in collaboration with Federal Express has successfully completed India’s first intra-city drone delivery flight trials in Bengaluru. During the trials, a mid-mile aerial logistics service connecting Electronic City Phase II with a site close to the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) was validated. High-speed drone operations in complex urban airspace was tested during the trials, assessing the potential of drones to enhance network efficiency and reduce the reliance on the congested road infrastructure. The trials established that a 53 km road journey, taking about 60 minutes can be replaced with an aerial route of about 39-42 km, that reduces the one-way transit time to 21 minutes.
A core faculty member at the FedEx SMART Centre at IIT Madras, Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy said, “These trials represent a significant leap in our mission to create a sustainable and progressive supply chain model. By integrating advanced aerial robotics into urban logistics, we are moving beyond theoretical research to prove the efficacy of high-impact, future-ready solutions that can redefine the global logistics landscape.” Professor in-charge of the FedEx SMART Centre, Arshinder Kaur said “The high-speed drone-delivery trials are a strong demonstration of the centre’s commitment to driving innovation across modern supply chains and accelerating cutting-edge technologies.”
The involvement of FedEx
The trials were conducted under the research framework of the FedEx SMART Centre at IIT Madras. The trials are part of a broader effort globally by FedEx to explore innovative, safe and scalable logistics solutions for the future. The trials mark a significant milestone in the evolution of urban logistics, and reinforce the commitment by FedEx to advancing next-generation, technology-enabled supply chains in India. At the trial, vice president of marketing, customer experience, and air network, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa (MEISA), Nitin Navneet Tatiwala commented, “Innovation is central to how FedEx enables global commerce. This milestone reflects the FedEx SMART Centre’s broader research agenda across air cargo optimisation, electric vehicle integration, and advanced demand forecasting. Together, these efforts are focused on shaping future-ready, resilient and sustainable supply chain ecosystems in partnership with academia, industry and policymakers.”