By Sarah Sloat
FRANKFURT--Deutsche Post-DHL AG (DPW.XE) launched a test flight
for drone delivery Monday, just about a week after e-commerce giant
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) stirred a media frenzy by saying it would
use drones to bring packages to customers.
The postal and logistics company said it began a week-long pilot
project on Monday in cooperation with a pharmacy in Bonn, where the
company is located.
"Our plans are in the early stages and there are a number of
scenarios we're evaluating, including delivering medicine that's
needed quickly, or to hard-to-reach places," Deutsche Post
spokeswoman Dunja Kuhlmann said.
Among the obstacles is regulation, which prevents Deutsche
Post's drones from taking off or landing in residential areas.
There are also logistical and safety considerations. The company
received a special permit to conduct the project this week.
"We could not launch from the pharmacy, but had to pick the
medication up there and take it to the Rhine river," Ms. Kuhlmann
said. "Because the banks of the Rhine are not populated, we could
launch from there."
The bright yellow drone then crossed the Rhine and delivered the
package of medicines to a lawn behind Deutsche Post headquarters.
Altogether, five flights were conducted Monday.
The test flight used a Quadrocopter, a mini-drone with four
rotors. The unmanned flight was steered manually by remote control,
and covered 2.5 kilometers round trip, Ms. Kuhlmann said.
As part of this week's project, Deutsche Post employees were
asked to make orders with the Mohren Apotheke, a local pharmacy.
The company will use the internal project to create and collect
data on feasibility.
The company said it is too early to say what the next pilot
flight might be.
Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos about a week ago said his
company's plans to use drones to deliver online orders could be
viable in four to five years. In addition to concerns about privacy
and public safety, the seemingly sci-fi technology sparked
widespread media interest.
Write to Sarah Sloat at sarah.sloat@wsj.com
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