Earlier this week Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) of Vaughan, Ontario announced the completion of three round trips with their Canary drone in commercial service, transporting cargo to a point over 13 kilometres distant and, in the last flight, in wind conditions that would have precluded the use of the Sparrow, one of DDC’s earlier models.
The aircraft and its controlling device(s) are referred to by Transport Canada (and ICAO) as a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS), the aircraft alone being an RPA.
In a press release issued earlier this week, DDC claimed that the Canary RPA performed better than its predecessor, the Sparrow RPA, taking nine percent less time to complete each flight while consuming 42 percent less battery power. It also emitted 46 percent less noise than the Sparrow. Missions with the Canary RPA are expected to fly more efficiently as that model is permitted to fly above populated areas where its predecessors were prohibited.
“The successful commercial flights of the Canary on the Care by Air route mark a significant milestone for our company and the drone delivery industry as a whole,” DDC’s CEO Steve Magirias said.
The Care by Air organization referred to by Magirias is a consortium comprising Air Canada Cargo, DSV Global Transport and Logistics, EllisDon Facilities Services and McMaster University that seeks to provide timely delivery of health care supplies.
The Canary RPA has a payload capacity of 4.5 kg and its range is greater than 20 km.
“Being at the forefront of an innovative drone delivery system is the ideal way to contribute to the advancement of healthcare so we can be more responsive to the care needs of our patients, families and communities,” said Halton Healthcare senior vice-president Hilary Rodrigues.