First in Japan! Continuous Level 3.5 operation for one month Start of demonstration of frequent delivery between mainland and remote islands using drones

Transport daily necessities and food items PD6B-Type3

PRODRONE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, President and Representative Director: Shunsuke Toya, hereinafter referred to as PRODRONE) is promoted by Aichi Prefecture. Aichi Mobility Innovation Project “Aichi Model 2030 Connecting Sky and Road” We are cooperating with the logistics drone social implementation model promotion project (contractor: Nagoya Railway). As part of this project, we began an approximately one-month demonstration experiment (hereinafter referred to as the “Demonstration”) for logistics between the mainland and remote islands using logistics drones on October 7, 2024. ■Background of the demonstration experiment In May 2023, Aichi Prefecture launched the "Aichi Mobility Innovation Project 'Aichi Model 2030 Connecting Sky and Roads'" as the first public-private partnership project based on the "Innovative Business Creation Strategy." This project aims to speed up the social implementation of drones, flying cars, etc., and to realize the ``Aichi Model,'' a new mobility society created through simultaneous control with self-driving cars and other devices. We have started this demonstration as one initiative toward realizing the "Aichi Model." ■Purpose of the demonstration experiment This demonstration will demonstrate frequent delivery between the mainland (Nishio City Isshiki Fishing Port) and a remote island (Sakushima) using a drone, and is the first attempt in Japan to conduct level 3.5 flights for one month. With the cooperation of our advisory board members, including Professor Morikawa, who is conducting research on autonomous driving at Nagoya University, we aim to build a new logistics business model through technical and business verification. ■Details of the demonstration experiment We will use drones to transport daily necessities and foodstuffs. The flight period will be approximately one month from October 7, 2024 to November 5, 2024, and will include two round trips from Isshiki Fishing Port in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture to Sakushima, a distance of approximately 8 km, between 8 a.m. and sunset. The communication for this demonstration experiment is provided by KDDI. During the period, we will also consider the use of self-driving EV vehicles, ``Green Slow Mobility,'' to confirm issues for future commercialization and to verify technical aspects.

Governor Omura of Aichi Prefecture shows the contents of the box (large clams) at the kick-off ceremony (center of photo)

PRODRONE GCS screen

Video from drone

Toya's comment

"Prodrone is based in Aichi Prefecture and develops and manufactures industrial drones for peacetime, disaster situations, defense, and international contributions. In this demonstration experiment, we will use a large drone that can transport up to 20 kg of cargo. PD6B-Type3 '' and is equipped with a collision avoidance device and 360-degree monitoring function to ensure safe flight. Of particular importance is the drone social implementation project for the route connecting Isshiki Fishing Port in Aichi Prefecture and Sakushima, which will operate at level 3.5 for one month continuously. PRODRONE's GCS enables flight management of multiple drones and creates safe routes. We hope that this new technology will be used as a means of regional logistics."

■About Prodrone Co., Ltd. With the vision of "becoming the most trusted drone company in the region," we aim to build a drone ecosystem in the Chubu region. We provide a one-stop service for everything from development to production of industrial drones, including the PD6B-Type3 multicopter, which has started mass production with a maximum recommended payload of 20kg, and the PDH-GS120 helicopter, which can fly for two hours and has excellent weather resistance.