Swiss WorldCargo to test drones

The airfreight carrier will test Matternet drones from California, along with Swiss Post.    Swiss Post, Swiss WorldCargo, the air cargo division of Swiss International Air Lines, and Matternet, a transportation drone manufacturer based in California, have jointly launched a project to test the deployment of drones.
   In a press release issued Tuesday, the three companies said they are “currently researching the practical uses that drone technology could offer, and the business case to support such a development. The possibilities range from internal logistics to the delivery of consignments over the last mile.”
   The companies said the first tests involving drones are scheduled to take place this summer in Switzerland.
   “The primary aim of this pilot project is a proof of concept to clarify the legal framework, consider local conditions and explore the technical and business capabilities of the drones,” they said.
   The partners will test a number of Matternet ONE drones, which are designed for the transportation of small packages which they said can transport 1 kilogram over up to 20 kilometers on a single battery charge. The Matternet ONE is capable of autonomous operation, following secure routes generated by Matternet’s proprietary cloud software.