Japan's first long-distance logistics demonstration experiment using a single-rotor drone begins ~ Shima City, Gamagori City, Omaezaki City, PRODRONE, and KDDI sign an agreement ~

Shima City, Mie Prefecture (Mayor: Chihiro Takeuchi, hereinafter referred to as Shima City), Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture (Mayor: Masakichi Inaba, hereinafter referred to as Gamagori City), Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture (Mayor: Shigeo Yanagisawa, hereinafter referred to as Omaezaki City), Prodrone Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President and CEO: Masakazu Kono, hereinafter referred to as Omaezaki City) PRODRONE) and KDDI Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Makoto Takahashi, hereinafter referred to as KDDI) have concluded an agreement on September 3, 2019 regarding a drone long-distance logistics demonstration experiment (hereinafter referred to as this experiment), which will be jointly promoted by two companies in three cities.
In this experiment, we will begin demonstrating long-distance logistics using a single-rotor drone that can autonomously fly up to approximately 175 km, the first in Japan (*1).

From left in the photo: Mayor Takeuchi of Shima City, Mayor Inaba of Gamagori City, Deputy Mayor Kamogawa of Omaezaki City, Director Maeda of KDDI Corporation's Next Generation Infrastructure Development Office, and President Kono of Prodrone Corporation.

1. Background of this experiment

While the volume of logistics is increasing due to factors such as online shopping, the demand for new logistics systems is increasing due to a decline in the labor force in the logistics field due to population decline and aging. In addition, new methods are needed to realize quick and smooth logistics in times of emergency such as weather and earthquake disasters.
Under these circumstances, the government is calling for the social implementation of a flight management system that utilizes drones, including beyond visual line of sight flight and autonomous flight (*2).
With the aim of building a solution capable of transporting heavy goods over long distances, PRODRONE and KDDI, in cooperation with Shima City, Gamagori City, and Omaezaki City, will begin a demonstration experiment of a long-range logistics drone that will autonomously fly approximately 70 km between Shima City and Gamagori City and approximately 175 km between Shima City and Omaezaki City.

2.Implementation overview

There are three solutions that we would like to confirm through this experiment:

(1) Possibility of medium- and long-distance logistics using drones to replace current medium- and long-distance logistics
(2) Possibility of a logistics system that connects regional cities and supports local industries
(3) Possibility of emergency logistics infrastructure in the event of an emergency or disaster

3.Purpose

(1) PRODRONE
PRODRONE, which has developed aircraft that meet the needs of a variety of customers, will be responsible for developing a heavy-lift transport aircraft (single-rotor drone, gasoline engine) capable of long-distance flight for this demonstration experiment. In addition to transportation, we also aim to provide a platform to logistics service companies and others using an unmanned aircraft flight system that can perform emergency photography and video distribution services even in remote locations.

(2) KDDI
In order to expand the industrial application of drones, KDDI utilizes a smart drone platform that enables beyond-the-line-of-sight flight using mobile communication networks, and has been actively building businesses in the inspection and logistics fields since fiscal 2019, the social implementation phase.
Mobile communication networks are essential for drones to fly over wide areas and over long distances, and the range of applications is expected to further expand with the 5G mobile communication system, which will begin service this year.

4.Comments from each mayor regarding this experiment

(1) Chihiro Takeuchi, Mayor of Shima City, Mie Prefecture

“Using this demonstration experiment as an opportunity, we would like to proceed with initiatives aimed at revitalizing the local economy through the use of the sky, such as transporting local products using drones and sightseeing from above using flying cars.
By creating a new regional logistics channel using drones, we can expect to expand commercial distribution by transporting fresher products. We aim to expand sales channels for local products by delivering fresh spiny lobsters, abalones, turban shells, and oysters caught in the waters of Shima by drone."

(2) Masayoshi Inaba, Mayor of Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture

"Gamagori City has a port, is close to Japan's major arteries of the Tomei Expressway, Shin-Tomei Expressway, and National Route 1, and has an interchange for the National Route 23 Bypass, an expressway that connects Nagoya to Hamamatsu. This demonstration experiment will add air to land and sea logistics. By aligning land, sea, and air, new possibilities for logistics will expand, such as from air to land and from sea to air.We aim to create new value by researching methods of logistics suitable for goods, such as fresh deep-sea fish landed by Aichi Prefecture's only offshore trawler.

(3) Shigeo Yanagisawa, Mayor of Omaezaki City, Shizuoka Prefecture

"Up until now, our city has been considering the use of drones to investigate disaster situations and search for people's lives in the event of an emergency or disaster, but with this demonstration experiment, we hope that they will also be used to deliver emergency supplies to disaster-stricken areas and save lives." In addition, as a countermeasure to the shortage of workers in the agricultural and fisheries industry, we hope that the Omaezaki brand of agricultural and fishery products will be used to increase the popularity of Omaezaki brand agricultural and fishery products, as it will be used to transport heavy items and take advantage of their freshness, making it possible to save labor and create high added value on-site.

Reference: Aircraft photo (prototype)

Reference: Schedule from demonstration experiment to operation (*3)

Reference: Demonstration test flight map

*1) As of September 3, 2019. Researched by PRODRONE.
*2) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry “Roadmap towards an industrial revolution in the skies” ( https://www.meti.go.jp/policy/mono_info_service/mono/robot/drone.html )
*3) As of September 3, 2019