A project in which drones carry items to and from rural regions that could be used in emergency situations has shown success, the Institute of Transportation said.
“In collaboration with Chunghwa Post, drones have proved their high-mobility and quick-deployment capability in a pilot project to deliver items in rural townships,” the institute said in a statement.
Drones have shown that they can deliver medicine and emergency relief supplies in a timely manner when road access is cut to remote areas, boosting disaster relief efforts, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Institute of Transportation
Three capabilities were tested: daily services, emergency support and disaster relief, the institute said.
Drones can deliver daily needs in rural regions and carry farm products out, it said.
They can rapidly deliver medicine and medical devices during an emergency, it said, adding that when a rural area is cut off due to flooding or landslides, they can carry supplies to isolated residents.
A proof of concept phase was conducted from 2020 to 2022, testing drones on a route from Donggang Port (東港漁港) in Pingtung County to Siaouliouciou Island (小琉球) about 14km to sea, and to a site on Lala Mountain (拉拉山) in Taoyuan’s Fusing District (復興) to prove the devices are capable of overcoming the many technical challenges of flying over seas and mountains, it said.
Since 2023, the institute has conducted a proof of service phase, testing the ability of drones to carry packages to Cimei (奇美) and Dali (大禮), rural areas in Hualien County, it said.
“This year, the proof of business phase began in collaboration with Chunghwa Post, as well as other public agencies and private firms,” the institute said.
“Sustainable business models for delivery drones have been identified, while drones have carried supplies during actual emergencies,” it said.
Institute Deputy Director Wang Mu-heng (王穆衡) said that delivery drones were not deployed after the barrier lake collapse on the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in Hualien County in September, as the work there was coordinated by the Disaster Relief Command Center.
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