The implementation partner for the landmark trial was Amber Wings, a deep-tech start-up incubated at IIT Madras and founded by the FedEx SMART Centre’s Core Faculty Member, Prof. Satyanarayanan R. Chakravarthy.
The trial has established the fact, through a detailed analysis, that it reduces the distance by 53 kilometres to 39-42 kilometres, reducing the delivery time to 21 minutes from an hour, which highlights the efficiency of drone logistics. The flight path involved coordinated navigation through Airport Yellow and Red Zones, with all necessary permissions granted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Operations were conducted at an altitude of 120 metres as per guidelines. Safety systems included an autonomous flight termination system, return-to-home capability and anti-collision strobe lighting.
The trials mark a significant milestone in the evolution of urban logistics and reinforce FedEx’s commitment to advancing next-generation, technology-enabled supply chains in India.
This initiative tested high-speed drone operations in the complex urban space and assessed their potential to enhance network efficiency and reduce reliance on congested road infrastructure.
The trials form part of FedEx’s broader efforts globally to explore innovative, safe, and scalable logistics solutions for the future and validated a mid-mile aerial logistics service connecting Electronic City Phase II with a site near Bangalore International Airport Limited.
“Innovation is central to how FedEx enables global commerce. This milestone reflects the FedEx SMART Centre’s broader research agenda across air cargo optimisation, electric vehicle integration, and advanced demand forecasting. Together, these efforts are focused on shaping future-ready, resilient and sustainable supply chain ecosystems in partnership with academia, industry and policymakers,” Nitin Navneet Tatiwala, vice president of marketing, customer experience and air network, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa (MEISA), FedEx, said.
“These trials represent a significant leap in our mission to create a sustainable and progressive supply chain model. By integrating advanced aerial robotics into urban logistics, we are moving beyond theoretical research to prove the efficacy of high-impact, future-ready solutions that can redefine the global logistics landscape,” Prof. Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, core faculty member, FedEx SMART Centre, IIT Madras, said.
“The high-speed drone-delivery trials are a strong demonstration of the centre’s commitment to driving innovation across modern supply chains and accelerating cutting-edge technologies,” Prof. Arshinder Kaur, professor in-charge, FedEx SMART Centre, said.
