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Royal Mail uses ULTRA UAV in remote deliveries trial

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Royal Mail’s ambition to deliver to remote communities is moving forward with a trial of autonomous flights between Kirkwall and North Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands.

The two-week trial will see Windracers Ltd’s ULTRA UAV take scheduled, autonomous flights as part of the Sustainable Aviation Test Environment (SATE) project, which is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) via the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

The twin-engine ULTRA has been designed, built and operated by Windracers Ltd to carry 100kg of mail from Kirkwall Airport on the Orkney mainland to the island community of North Ronaldsay, which is a 35-mile flight each way. Letters and parcels will then be delivered by the local postie when they reach the island.

Autonomous drone makes special deliveries to Scilly Isles

SATE project set to bring sustainability to short routes

If the trial is successful, the technology will be considered by Royal Mail to support postmen and postwomen in delivering to very remote areas and addresses across the UK. It follows previous efforts that in December 2020 saw Royal Mail deliver a parcel for recipients via drone to a remote lighthouse on the Isle of Mull. In May 2021, Royal Mail conducted first UK drone parcel delivery beyond visual line of site with Windracers Ltd, and the first inter-island deliveries on the Isles of Scilly.

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