France: Cdiscount interested in using delivery drones

31.08.2017

France: Cdiscount interested in using delivery drones
Emballages Magazine, 31 Aug 2017, online:-
French online retailer Cdiscount is considering the use of drones to deliver parcels in city centres. The firm carried out its first trial in December 2016, when it used drones to deliver toys to sick children at the Pellegrin Hospital in Bordeaux. It is now continuing to work in collaboration with the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, as its Pelican project (air parcel delivery study project in Nouvelle-Aquitaine) has been selected as part of the Drone City call for expressions of interest. Cdiscount has partnered with firms such as Thales, Serma Technologies, Robotics Industry, Air Marine and IMS, as well as national aerospace research centre ONERA, in order to carry out this project and the aim is to develop a drone to transport packages weighing up to 5 kg. Pierre-Yves Escarpit, Cdiscount's head of operations, has stated that the strength of this team is to bring together experts in all necessary fields in order to guarantee the success of this project, which should enable the company to move very efficiently and quickly towards the use of drones for deliveries in urban areas.
©M-Brain
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