Skyports Drone Services is making waves in the world of drone delivery and inspection services, particularly in the healthcare, maritime, logistics, and energy sectors. Their latest venture involves conducting a series of Proof-of-Concept Ship-to-Shore drone flights and deliveries in Michigan’s Great Lakes region, specifically in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), and Newlab.
The trial, which is set to run until May 27, 2025, is based in DeTour, Michigan, and focuses on ferrying cargo to Interlake Steamship vessels. The primary goal of these drone deliveries is to demonstrate the speed, safety, sustainability, and cost benefits of using drones to supplement regular ship deliveries from supply boats. The types of cargo being transported during this trial include oil samples, potable water samples, flat and small mail, and linens/laundry.
One of the key objectives of this pilot program is to validate the technology required for safe and efficient drone integration in maritime environments. By gathering valuable insights from this trial, Skyports aims to inform regulatory requirements and policy frameworks necessary for scaling shore-to-ship drone operations and ultimately paving the way for widespread adoption of drone-based logistics in the region.
As part of a larger trial, this initial proof of concept pilot is just the first stage of a proposed three-stage process that will explore the feasibility of other high-value drone delivery use cases. During this trial, Skyports is utilizing a Speedbird DLV-2 drone with a payload capacity of up to 8.8lbs and the ability to operate in gusting windspeeds of up to 28mph.
To ensure safe and efficient cargo delivery and collection, the drone is equipped with winch technology. The drone descends to approximately 50 feet above the vessel’s deck where the crew awaits, deploys the winch to deliver or collect the payload, and then retracts the winch before returning to base once the task is completed.
Skyports is providing a comprehensive end-to-end service for this trial, including route planning, regulatory approvals, drone operations, and data collection and analysis. The ultimate objective is to produce a report summarizing the trial results and their potential applicability to other use cases, with the goal of establishing permanent commercial drone operations in the near future.
Alex Brown, Director of Drone Services at Skyports, expressed enthusiasm for this new venture, highlighting the success of previous maritime delivery operations in Singapore and the company’s plans to expand to other ports in the US. With Michigan fostering an innovation-friendly environment for advanced air mobility, Skyports looks forward to launching additional flight campaigns in the state in the coming months.