KUALA LUMPUR: DHL Express Malaysia has teamed up with Pen Aviation to commercialise time-critical goods deliveries using drones.
Pen Aviation is expected to undertake a proof-of-commercialisation (PoC) by this month to demonstrate the commercial viability of cargo drone delivery for port logistics missions.
Founder and managing director Jean-Bernard Boura said the PoC would be followed by certification exercise with the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia before it can commercially deploy the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by the year end.
"We decide to tackle every single pain point that hinders UAV-based businesses today, starting with UAV designs that can meet aviation certification standards.
"But above and beyond the UAV design, we are excited to confront our overall ecosystem to DHL demanding cargo environment and demonstrate our business enabling logistics solutions, whatever the mile, whatever the mode of transportation," Boura said at a virtual conference after the memorandum of understanding on the matter between DHL Express Malaysia and Pen Aviation today.
The POC will also demonstrate the cost and time optimisation of a fleet of drones to streamline port logistics, and distribution activities for goods at commercial ports.
The POC allows Pen Aviation to undertake first- to last-mile port logistics missions jointly conducted by DHL Express and Raya Airways.
DHL Express Malaysia said the parnership would enhance its logistics capabilities to transport time-critical goods between ship decks and commercial ports.
DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei managing director Julian Neo said cargo drones would be the next generation of transportation in logistics.
"This PoC comes in the wake of the recent 12th Malaysia Plan announcement as the government highlighted the importance of seamless connectivity and reliability in transport and logistics," he said.
Neo said the use of drone technology would enable DHL Express to reach rural communities especially in Sabah and Sarawak where critical items such as vaccines, medicines, and medical devices would be needed.
Under the MoU, DHL and Pen Aviation will certify and use PEN55V drones to move shipments to seaports over long distances.
PEN55V, Pen Aviation's medium-size cargo drone, will pick up and drop off packages weighing up to 12kg from the cargo ship deck to the port and vice versa, both in the day and at night.
The long-term goal is to set up a mixed fleet of PEN55V and PEN1360V, Pen Aviation's heavy-size cargo drones designed and manufactured in partnership with Cavok-UAS.
PEN55V has a fly range of 50km with a maximum takeoff weight of about 55kg and payload capped at 15kg.
"The endurance is about 2.5 hours and it can fly at 110km/h maximum speed. It has vertical takeoff and landing capability. It does not need any runway and with limited infrastructure for take off and land. It can fly up 3,500m in altitude," said Boura.