Grab partners ST Engineering to launch drone food delivery pilot in Singapore

Grab announced Tuesday it is kicking off a three-month drone delivery pilot in Singapore’s Tanjong Rhu neighborhood in partnership with ST Engineering’s Unmanned Air Systems business, the developer of the drone solution used in this pilot. Grab said in a statement that this pilot aims to explore how autonomous tech can work hand-in-hand with its delivery-partner network to improve overall efficiency. The firms will start with internal testing and plan to launch a controlled pilot trial in Tanjong Rhu. It is noted that geographical constraints can slow down deliveries and affect efficiency. In Singapore’s Tanjong Rhu estate, the Kallang River separates homes from the main cluster of eateries — and getting around it adds valuable minutes to every trip. Longer routes mean longer wait times, and more complicated and less efficient deliveries for partners. That’s where drone deliveries come in. By introducing drones, Grab said that they can reduce the effort needed for tricky routes, and get food to hungry customers more efficiently. It opined that delivery-partners also benefit too, with more efficient routes and the ability to complete more trips. According to the statement, the delivery-partners remain central to the experience: a delivery-partner will bring the order to the designated drone launchpad at Republic Avenue; a Grab staff will load the order onto the drone; a drone operator from ST Engineering will load the box onto the drone; the drone will travel along its approved route across Kallang River; a Grab staff will receive and unload the order at the designated Tanjong Rhu landing hub; another delivery-partner completes the final leg, delivering the food to consumers. While drones handle the tricky river crossing, delivery-partners provide the human touch that drones can’t: checking orders, managing handoffs to drone operators, and making sure every meal reaches the right doorstep safely, said the statement. Grab highlighted that over 20 delivery-partners have been trained on safe and efficient drone handoffs by ST Engineering to make the process seamless. According to the statement, the drone delivery (Beta) will run every Tuesday to Sunday between 10 AM and 6 PM. Each day, there will be up to 28 drone deliveries. Meanwhile, the average flight time is estimated to be about 8 minutes for a round trip, making it a quick and convenient option. However, operations will pause during wet weather conditions, and there will be no flights during public holidays such as the Lunar New Year, Good Friday and Hari Raya. Grab also highlighted that the drone is designed to operate at noise levels comparable to a normal conversation. “As it will fly largely over open waters, any potential noise impact is expected to be minimal, particularly for areas located further from the flight path. Navigation cameras will not store any footage,” it added. The pilot would be open to consumers making an order from within the Tanjong Rhu area and limited to merchant partners from Bugis, Kampong Glam and Suntec City to allow us to conduct the trial in a controlled manner. This approach allows Grab and its partners to explore the practical and technical aspects of drone use in everyday settings, said the statement. Grab acquires Chinese AI robotics firm Infermove to strengthen last-mile delivery capabilities