by Emily AtkinsAugust 4, 2023
Drone Delivery Canada Corp.’s Canary remotely piloted aircraft has completed its first commercial flights.
The company completed three round trip flights with the Canary on the Care by Air route, which is DDC’s longest commercial route at 13.4km. All flights were completed in accordance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations. The third flight was completed in wind conditions where the company’s smaller Sparrow RPA could not have flown, highlighting the improved flight dynamics of the Canary over the Sparrow.
Compared to its predecessor, the Sparrow RPA, the Canary showcased improved performance in several flight measures. The Canary completed the trip on the Care by Air route in nine percent less time, and with 42 percent lower battery power consumption. The Canary was also 46 percent quieter than the Sparrow RPA.
The Canary flew the same route as the Sparrow, but future routes would be more efficient due to the Canary’s ability to fly over people which will allow for more direct customer routes leading to further reductions in flight time and improved utilization.
“The successful commercial flights of the Canary on the Care by Air route marks a significant milestone for our company and the drone delivery industry as a whole,” said Steve Magirias, CEO of Drone Delivery Canada. “We are incredibly proud of our team’s dedication and innovation, which has allowed us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the realm of drone logistics. The Canary’s impressive performance demonstrates its immense potential to revolutionize healthcare supply chains and make a tangible difference in people’s lives.”
The Care by Air route connects DSV Air & Sea Inc. Canada’s Milton DC to Halton Healthcare’s Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. The cargo drones transport a variety of healthcare goods including medical isotopes for cancer care (supplied from McMaster University).
The Canary RPA has a payload of up to 4.5 kg, a range of greater than 20 km, real-time communication and tracking systems, an integrated scale on the RPA itself, and needs only half the batteries of the Sparrow RPA. With the integrated scale , the Company will be able to reduce ground infrastructure costs, speed up deployments and provide a more robust solution to the end customer.
The aircraft is equipped with a parachute recovery system that allows it to fly over populated areas, expanding its potential applications and increasing its versatility.