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This blog post is based on Guardian’s ‘We don’t stop for red lights’: drone deliveries take off as Australian regulators prepare for air traffic boom article.
The skies above Australia are witnessing a revolution in which drones are rapidly taking center stage. From delivering groceries to mining equipment, these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are reshaping industries and challenging traditional delivery methods. As regulators grapple with the burgeoning drone traffic, technology companies are racing to overcome connectivity hurdles and ensure drones’ safe and efficient operation.
Table of Contents
A New Era of Delivery
While widespread reliance on drones may seem a few years away, industries such as food delivery, agriculture and mining have already embraced their potential. According to government figures, there are now more licensed drones in Australia than all other airspace users combined. As regulators prepare for a surge in drone traffic, technology companies are exploring solutions to prevent connectivity blackouts that could lead to drones plummeting from the sky.
Airservices Australia, the federal agency overseeing airspace across the country, reports that approximately 1.5 million drone flights take place annually in Australia. And this number is steadily increasing.
The Convenience of Drone Deliveries
The applications for drone deliveries are vast and varied. In urban areas, drones deliver everything from freshly brewed coffee to emergency medications. Amazon has already begun offering drone deliveries in select towns in the US and recently announced a similar trial in the UK. In Australia, drone delivery has been gaining traction for over four years. Australians in certain trial areas have been able to order food and parcels by drone for over four years.
Wing Aviation, a startup owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent company), is one of only two companies CASA (Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority) authorized to pilot drones beyond visual line of sight. This approval allows pilots to control drones remotely from a control center, expanding the reach and efficiency of drone delivery services. Wing Aviation has already launched operations in parts of southeast Queensland and, most recently, in the Maroondah council area in Melbourne’s east.
Wing operates its drone fleets from the rooftops of shopping centers in its trial areas. Customers in these areas place orders from local stores through the DoorDash app. Store workers bring the orders to the rooftop, where Wing employees load the parcels onto the drones. These drones then fly to customers’ driveways or backyards, requiring a 2-meter space for delivery. Popular items for drone delivery include medications, coffee, smoothies, and burgers, currently with a maximum payload of 1.2kg.
The convenience of drone delivery is undeniable. As Jesse Suskin from Wing Aviation notes, “When you run out of milk, when you need children’s Panadol, it’s the convenience of being able to send those things by drone instead of having to drive back to the shops through peak hour.”
Automation and Efficiency
One of the significant advantages of BVLOS drone delivery is its efficiency. A single pilot can control multiple drones simultaneously, reducing delivery costs and improving efficiency compared to manned deliveries. The high automation of the drones means that the pilot’s role is less about controlling individual drones and more about overseeing the overall delivery map.
The integration of drones into existing airspace requires careful planning and regulation to ensure the safe and efficient operation of drones alongside traditional aircrafts. Airservices Australia, which oversees Australian airport towers as well as 11% of global airspace, is developing a system to accommodate the expected surge in unmanned aircraft traffic.
Overcoming Connectivity Challenges
One of the major challenges facing drone delivery is connectivity, especially in rural areas. The potential for drones to bridge the gap in rural areas with insufficient infrastructure is enormous. However, limited internet connection can potentially lead to loss of drone control and crashes. Companies are exploring innovative technologies that can provide reliable connectivity even in remote locations to address this issue.
Elsight’s Halo communication solution addresses the rural connectivity challenge by aggregating multiple internet carriers, including satellites like Elon Musk’s Starlink, to avoid communication failures during long-distance flights. Elsight’s Halo multilink communication system allows drones to seamlessly switch between multiple internet providers, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity even in the most remote areas.
This technology thrives in places where connections are unreliable. It is essential for drone operations in rural locations and monitoring activities such as shark surveillance, natural disaster response, and policing. In a country where telecommunications black spots are a critical weakness in infrastructure, technologies like Elsight’s Halo are vital for ensuring the reliability and safety of drone operations.
Elsight’s Halo is employed by Sphere Drones, a firm engaged in agricultural operations and mining. During the Optus outage in November, Sphere drones flying above a mine in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales remained airborne by seamlessly transitioning to a different cellular provider. Elsight’s Halo is also used in Walmart’s drone delivery system in the United States.
A Glimpse into the Future
The rapid expansion of drone delivery services in Australia is just the beginning. Airservices Australia prepares for the expected 60 million annual drone flights in Australia by 2043, ensuring they will peacefully coexist with commercial aircrafts.
As Yoav Amitai, CEO of Elsight, aptly puts it, “In the late 1800s, with the first cars, people said: ‘Are you guys nuts? They’re noisy and dangerous, and we already have horses; why do we need cars?’ But for delivery, drones are a no-brainer. They will be faster and create less traffic.” Yoav added.
“People shouldn’t be afraid you’ll see drones flying with full grocery carts in the sky. It’s less about replacing the shopping trolley, and more the delivery rider on a scooter.”
Yoav Amitai, Elsight’s CEO
As drone technology advances and societal acceptance grows, the future of logistics in Australia and worldwide will undoubtedly be shaped by the innovations taking flight today. From delivering everyday essentials to remote areas to ensuring critical supplies reach those in need, drones become an integral part of our daily lives.
FAQs
1. What is BVLOS, and why is it important for drone deliveries?
BVLOS, or Beyond Visual Line of Sight, allows drones to operate beyond the pilot’s direct visual range while maintaining safe command and control through reliable communications, navigation, and other safety systems. For drone delivery, BVLOS is important because it enables longer routes, broader service coverage, better fleet efficiency, and scalable last-mile operations without requiring the pilot to keep each drone in direct sight.
2. How do companies prevent connectivity loss and crashes in rural or remote areas?
Operators typically use redundant communication architectures that combine multiple connectivity technologies, such as LTE, 5G, and satellite networks. Elsight’s Halo platform aggregates multiple communication links into a single resilient connection and automatically reroutes traffic if one network degrades or becomes unavailable, helping maintain safe command and control during delivery missions.
3. What are the current payload and range limits for consumer drone deliveries in Australia?
Current payload and range limits for consumer drone deliveries in Australia vary by aircraft, mission profile, and CASA approval. In practice, most commercial delivery drones carry only small parcels, typically a few kg or less, and operate over short to medium distances, often in the tens of km rather than long-haul routes. Actual operational limits still depend on the drone design, weather, payload, and the specific regulatory approval in place.
4. What regulations and approvals are required for drone delivery operators in Australia?
Drone delivery operators in Australia must comply with CASA regulations and obtain the approvals that match their operating model. For BVLOS operations, CASA states that operators generally need a remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate (ReOC), a remote pilot licence (RePL) with an Instrument Rating or BVLOS exam pass, supervision by a person with one of those qualifications, and a BVLOS flight approval. Depending on the aircraft and business setup, operators may also need operator accreditation, drone registration, an aviation reference number, documented procedures, and risk controls aligned to the operating area and safety case.
5. When can consumers expect widespread drone delivery services, and where are trials currently running?
Drone delivery services are already operating in selected regions in Australia, and trials continue in urban, suburban, regional, and remote settings. Wider adoption will depend on regulatory progress, airspace integration, public acceptance, infrastructure, and reliable BVLOS connectivity. In Australia, current deployments include Wing’s approved service areas in Victoria, the ACT, and Queensland, as well as Swoop Aero’s approved operations in Toowoomba and Goondiwindi.
