Australia Post trials small parcel deliveries by drones

PARCELS are set to be delivered by drone across Melbourne in a giant leap for the postie, as Australia Post moves to trial new technology.

PARCELS are set to be delivered by drone across Melbourne in one giant leap for the postie.

In scenes borrowed straight from science fiction, Australia Post will trial new technology to carry small packages straight to front doors.

Medications and “time critical” items will be dropped by air in a closed field trial unveiled this morning.

“This trial is another exciting example of how we’re looking to the future with emerging technologies to make life easier for our customers,” Australia Post managing director Ahmed Fahour said.

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A Japanese drone being tested in Tokyo this week demonstrated door-to-door parcel delivery by a GPS-equipped drone. Picture: AFP

Another prototype for Amazon’s air delivery service.

He said the innovation built on existing services and followed double-digit growth in the nation’s eCommerce and online shopping sector in five years.

Under the scheme, customers who sign up can elect to have their parcel “safe-dropped’’, or sent to an alternate location as well as receiving SMS and email notifications.

“We will put this innovative technology through its paces over the coming weeks and months to understand what it can deliver, how far it can travel, and ultimately, how our customers could receive a parcel,’’ Mr Fahour said.

“RPA (remotely piloted aircraft) technology will continue to evolve over the coming years and while we’re not sure what role it will play in our future, we do think there are opportunities for time-critical deliveries or where there are significant distances between the road and front door.’’

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