Matternet, a new company founded in Silicon Valley, has test network of unmanned aircraft in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. During the experiment, they were able to fly 6 miles and carrying heavy luggage weight 2 kg.
Right now, the company is hoping to expand the ambitious plan to replace the current transportation system and establish an international network of “unmanned flight” for the device can automatically fly.
The company hopes to set up charging stations for fuel unmanned aircraft, so that we can continue to stop and charge the next flight. Currently, there Matternet planes can fly 6 miles and carry baggage weighing 2kg, but it plans to produce more aircraft to fly longer routes.
The company hopes the system will initially be used in rural areas, remote areas or countries without road network.
“The easiest way to describe what we are doing is to compare mobile phone has evolved and how common in developing countries,” founder and CEO Andreas Raptopoulos told CNN.
“We want to leapfrog the infrastructure mode of transportation and transportation traditional things by means of unmanned aviation (UAV) to people in remote or isolated areas “.
According to the company, the potential applications of unmanned aircraft will be transporting drugs to the isolated area, far away, allowing farmers to provide products directly to customers and provide the necessary data for isolated areas by natural disasters.
If the initial test is successful, the system for the city could be built, allowing alternative postal staff by the unmanned aircraft flying in the sky.
The company hopes the system can not exceed the cost will be expensive. One of their studies showed the cost of a network of 50 fuel stations and 150 more unmanned aircraft is $ 900,000.
How to operate a network of unmanned aircraft
Unmanned Aircraft flying completely automated, supported by a network of “centers” on the ground like the post office.
These centers will be to get the plane and drop shipment, and charge them before continuing the flight to the next station.
The control unmanned aircraft and the package will actually be handled by an automated system operation, Matternet said. All orders or requests can proceed and payment via mobile phones.
(According VNReview & ICTNews)
