Wingcopter Launches New Autonomous Delivery Drone

A German startup, Wingcopter, has unveiled a novel autonomous delivery drone engineered to overcome a significant technical challenge that has been limiting the expansion of drone transportation services.

The newly revealed Wingcopter 198 boasts the capability of completing three distinct deliveries within a single flight. This multi-stop functionality is positioned by Wingcopter as a crucial element for establishing a cost-effective – and ultimately profitable – drone-delivery-as-a-service business model.

From Drone Manufacturing to Delivery Networks

Founded in 2017, Wingcopter initially focused on drone manufacturing. Revenue generated from this venture was then strategically reinvested to broaden the company’s scope, encompassing drone-delivery-as-a-service.

CEO Tom Plümmer articulated the company’s evolving mission to TechCrunch: “Our next goal is to move beyond simply building drones and instead focus on constructing comprehensive networks.” The company’s website now prominently features its delivery service, targeting sectors like healthcare, e-commerce, and grocery provision, among others.

Plümmer envisions the creation of “logistical highways in the sky,” representing the company’s overarching ambition.

The Tilt-Rotor Advantage

The core of this envisioned delivery system, according to the company, lies in its patented tilt-rotor propulsion system. This innovative mechanism merges the strengths of two distinct drone types:

• Multicopters: Providing smooth vertical takeoff and landing, alongside precise hovering capabilities.
• Fixed-Wing Drones: Enabling rapid flight speeds over extended distances.

Performance Specifications of the Wingcopter 198

The new Wingcopter 198 achieves a maximum speed of 93 miles per hour. It is capable of transporting payloads weighing up to 13 pounds over a distance of approximately 47 miles on a single battery charge.

With lighter cargo, the drone’s range extends to 68 miles, as stated by the company.

Plümmer further explained that the tilt-rotors are designed to automatically compensate for wind gusts and other adverse weather conditions. The drone’s architecture incorporates eight motors, enhancing both redundancy and operational safety.

Automated Operation and Scalability

These drones are fully automated, equipped with sensors and software for obstacle avoidance and precise parcel delivery to designated locations. A single operator can remotely monitor and control up to ten of these new drones simultaneously, utilizing Wingcopter’s control station software from any global location.

Plümmer emphasized the simplicity of operation, stating that launching a drone requires merely pressing the “start” button within the software program.

The scalability of the tilt-rotor system is also noteworthy. Plümmer suggests its potential application to larger aircraft for transporting greater cargo volumes, or even passengers.

“Cost is the primary consideration,” Plümmer noted, adding that the company already possesses personnel with the necessary expertise in aviation and aerial engineering to eventually scale the tilt-rotor technology. “Our initial focus is on a smaller model… accumulating thousands of flight hours and kilometers, and leveraging these insights to continuously improve future generations of Wingcopter, initially for cargo, and eventually for passenger transport.”

Ethical Considerations and Future Plans

Wingcopter has established a firm policy against collaborating with any entities that would utilize their drones for military or surveillance applications.

“This decision is fundamentally based on our ethical principles,” Plümmer stated. “We firmly believe that such use would be inconsistent with our vision of leveraging drone technology to save and improve lives.”

Currently, the company is actively seeking certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to enable commercial operations within the United States. Achieving this certification would position them among a select group of competitors in the industry.

Following a $22 million Series A funding round in January, Wingcopter is also exploring opportunities for another funding round. With additional capital from a Series B investment, the company plans to expand its team with specialists in artificial intelligence, piloting, and production, currently employing around 120 people.