DB Schenker and urban mobility air firm, Volocopter, have teamed up to develop solutions for the fast and emission-free transport of goods using heavylift drones. 

Volocopter exhibited its test VoloDrone aircraft, along with with a sample transport container from DB Schenker, at Germany’s National Aviation Conference last week.

In a statement, DB Schenker said the heavylift drone, which can take off and land vertically, is autonomously and electrically operated and can transport up to 200 kilograms (kg) of cargo with a range of up to 40 kilometers.

The VoloDrone weighs 600 kg, it is 9.15 meters in diameter, 2.15 meters tall.

Jochen Thewes, CEO of DB Schenker said the possibilities of utilizing the drone in logistics is "limitless."

"When the infrastructure for conventional means of transport is overburdened or non-existent, cargo drones offer an opportunity to rethink logistics routes. The possible applications in logistics are limitless. Through our partnership with Volocopter, this vision is gradually becoming reality. Drone transport is becoming increasingly tangible," he said.

DB Schenker noted that the first flight took place in 2019. Since then, regular flight tests have been conducted in southern Germany.

Florian Reuter, chief executive of Volocopter, said: "Our VoloDrone will be put to use, where classical ground transportation meets its limits in logistics, construction, or agriculture."

The logistics company said the future logistical applications for the heavy-lift drone include places that are difficult or slower to reach by other means, such as islands, land-to-ship deliveries, transport to mountainous regions, or places isolated from road networks following natural disasters.

Intra-city deliveries are also possible targets for such drone operations.