Chennai, Apr 20 (TNT): FedEx, the world’s largest express transportation company, in collaboration with IIT Madras, has successfully completed India’s first intra-city drone delivery flight trials in Bengaluru, marking a major milestone in the evolution of urban logistics and future-ready supply chains.
The high-speed aerial delivery trials connected Electronic City Phase II with a site near Bangalore International Airport Limited, the Institute said in a release on Monday..
Conducted under the FedEx SMART Centre at IIT Madras, the initiative demonstrated how drone-based mid-mile logistics can significantly reduce transit times and ease dependence on congested road networks.
According to the findings, a typical 53-km road journey taking over an hour was reduced to an aerial distance of about 39- 42 km, cutting one-way transit time to nearly 21 minutes.
The trials were carried out in complex urban airspace, including Airport Yellow and Red Zones, with approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Nitin Navneet Tatiwala, Vice President (Marketing, Customer Experience, and Air Network – MEISA) at FedEx, said the milestone reflects the company’s focus on innovation-driven, sustainable logistics.
He noted that the FedEx SMART Centre is working on areas such as air cargo optimisation, electric vehicle integration, and advanced demand forecasting to build resilient supply chain ecosystems.
Prof. Satyanarayanan R. Chakravarthy of IIT Madras described the trials as a significant leap toward integrating advanced aerial robotics into real-world logistics, moving beyond theoretical research.
Prof. Arshinder Kaur, Professor-in-Charge at the SMART Centre, said the initiative underscores the role of cutting-edge technologies in transforming modern supply chains.
The trials were conducted at an altitude of 120 metres with multiple safety features, including autonomous flight termination systems, return-to-home capability, and anti-collision lighting. The implementation partner was Amber Wings, a deep-tech start-up incubated at IIT Madras.
The successful demonstration is expected to pave the way for scalable, efficient, and technology-driven logistics solutions across India.
TNT TS
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