Skip to main content

Drone deliveries are about to be a thing in Switzerland

The Matternet Station
At last, a full-fledged drone delivery operation that has passed the trial stage and gained permission to deliver items in densely populated urban areas.

OK, this particular service isn’t aimed at internet shoppers, but its imminent launch at least shows that the platform is edging toward wider use and acceptance in a range of applications.

Silicon Valley, California-based startup Matternet has been developing its drone delivery system in Switzerland in partnership with Swiss Post, and will launch an autonomous drone delivery network there next month.

Instead of flying pizza to hungry residents, or bringing books and other items to online shoppers, Matternet has focused its efforts on medicine, designing a system that will help carry vital supplies such as blood and pathology samples between labs and hospitals.

It’s notable for two reasons. First, Matternet’s delivery platform has gone beyond the trial stage, with full-time operation set to launch in October. And second, the company has been given approval to fly its drones over populated areas. Yes, this is the kind of authorization that Amazon and similar outfits are desperate to receive for drone deliveries in the U.S. However, the Federal Aviation Administration still needs some convincing that flying autonomous drones over urban areas is safe.

The company unveiled a vital part of its technology — the Matternet Station — in a video posted on Wednesday, September 20. This is a fixed docking station located at the start and finish of the drone’s journey, ensuring secure and accurate delivery to a safe, clean environment, with the recipient able to access the consignment by scanning a QR code.

“With the Matternet Station, we’re introducing an extremely easy-to-use interface that enables true peer-to-peer drone delivery,” CEO Andreas Raptopoulos said. “For healthcare systems, an integrated Matternet network means that medical items can be delivered to any hospital facility within 30 minutes. This level of speed and predictability creates substantial opportunities for improved quality of care and operational savings.”

Matternet’s autonomous M2 drone can carry a package weighing up to 4.4 pounds over a maximum distance of 12 miles, flying at around 40 mph.

Swiss Post’s Nathalie Derobert Fellay told Digital Trends earlier this year that drones were an efficient way of moving supplies from A to B: “Instead of having transportation on the road, where you may be stuck in traffic for a long period of time, transportation by drone is significantly faster. It’s also better for the patient because we can run it 24 hours a day.”

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Amazon shows off new delivery drone ahead of trial service
Amazon's Prime Air delivery drone.

Almost a decade after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos revealed the company’s grand plan for drone delivery, it has yet to establish a regular service using the flying machines.

While the company has invested huge amounts of money in the initiative and assembled teams to design, build, and refine its delivery drone, various challenges mean the widespread rollout of a drone delivery service with package-carrying Amazon drones buzzing to customers’ homes still seems a ways off.

Read more
Walmart drone delivery plan includes millions of customers
walmart is starting to deliver your packages by drone drones

Walmart first revealed its interest in drone delivery five years ago. Since then it has been conducting a number of pilot schemes, its most recent one close to its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Now ready to take things further, Walmart has just announced it's planning to expand its drone network to 34 new locations by the end of the year, taking in a number of Walmart stores in Arizona, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Read more
Snapchat’s pocket-sized Pixy drone takes to the skies
Snapchat's Pixy drone.

Snap has unveiled its first camera drone -- Pixy.

A promotional video (below) shows a group of friends sending Pixy skyward to capture footage of the trio as they goof around in the countryside.

Read more