In estate i droni hanno trasportato circa 8,5 tonnellate di merci verso i rifugi

In the Alps, drones have carried approximately 8.5 tonnes of goods to refuges. FlyingBasket, an international tech company based in Alto Adige, transported these supplies via their FB3 cargo drone. This service, funded by the Autonomous Province of Bolzano's Department of Heritage Management, ran from June 1st to October 13th. The drones flew 189 times, with 189 flights delivering food and supplies, while also returning waste.

Christian Bianchi, the province's public works assessor, stated that the drones allow for more frequent deliveries, including fresh produce, and returning materials to lower altitudes. Alain Untergassmair, manager of the Brigata Tridentina/Birnlückenhütte refuge, noted that the operations were well-organized and the increased carrying capacity could be utilized further in the future.

FlyingBasket also handled the food procurement at local suppliers and returned waste to the valley during return flights. The drones operated in challenging alpine conditions, including changing winds, turbulence, low temperatures, clouds, and low air density. The drones had to navigate around mountains and over ridges, sometimes relying on satellite connectivity or 4G mobile networks for communication.

The project aims to integrate cargo drones into routine logistics for alpine refuges, overcoming traditional logistical challenges in remote locations. Moritz Moroder, CEO and co-founder of FlyingBasket, emphasized that this project is a significant step in overcoming the technical and regulatory limits of drone cargo operations, and that the experience gathered during the summer will directly influence the development of the FlyingBasket's next generation of high-altitude cargo drones.