Interesting Green: Successful drone trial by SingPost (Update: headline changed to reflect that the mail delivery by drone might not be the world’s first)

My Paper, Friday, October 09, 2015, Page A1, Top Stories
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/epc/en/2015-10-09/
Source Website: http://mypaper.sg/top-stories/world-first-successful-drone-trial-singpost-20151009
By Irene Tham, mypaper, itham@sph.com.sg, Published on Oct 09, 2015

PHOTO: The view from the drone en route to Pulau Ubin
PASS WITH FLYING COLOURS: The successful test by a postal service provider saw a UAV flying 2km, between Lorong Halus and Pulau Ubin, carrying a letter and T-shirt. It can carry up to 500g, and fly at a height of up to 45m.
PHOTOS: SINGPOST
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/blob/2177446/1444265248000/the-view-of-pulau-ubin-data.jpg
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/mail-sent-to-pulau-ubin/2177406.html

YOUR postman could one day be a drone.

Last month, Singapore Post completed an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) delivery trial, a successful test by a postal service provider.

The trial, which took place on 25 September 2015, involved an off-the-shelf drone system customised by engineers from SingPost and the government-backed Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) Labs.

It flew 2km, between Lorong Halus and Pulau Ubin, carrying a letter and T-shirt in a packet.

PHOTO: The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flew 2km, between Lorong Halus and Pulau Ubin, carrying a letter and T-shirt in a packet.
Posted by CNA on 08 October 2015 at 08:49
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/blob/2177442/1444265212000/the-flight-path-of-the-data.jpg
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/mail-sent-to-pulau-ubin/2177406.html

PHOTO: A letter and a T-shirt in a parcel were transported by drone from Lorong Halus to Pulau Ubin - a distance of about 2km, and taking about five minutes.
Posted by SPH Digital News on 08 October 2015 at 8:40 am SGT
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http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/drone09.jpg
http://www.straitstimes.com/business/world-first-trial-to-deliver-mail-by-drone-lands-successfully-in-pulau-ubin

The drone prototype has safety features designed for dense urban areas. It can carry up to 500g, and fly at a height of up to 45m.

Its delivery route can be controlled by an in-house smartphone app, complete with verification features to ensure that the mail reaches its intended recipient.

Bernard Leong, head of digital services at SingPost said, "There is immense potential in UAV technology for last-mile mail and e-commerce delivery." For instance, delivery times can be shortened as the flight paths can be more direct than road delivery routes, he said.

PHOTO: A SingPost drone successfully makes a 2km mail run from the mainland to Pulau Ubin
The drone has the capacity to carry a payload of up to half a kilogramme, fly at a height of up to 45m and travel a distance of 2.3km.
Photo: SingPost
Posted by CNA on 08 October 2015 at 08:49
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/mail-sent-to-pulau-ubin/2177406.html

Since United States e-commerce giant Amazon's announcement last year of a potential drone-based delivery service, consumers have been excited about this possibility.

But obstacles remain. SingPost, for instance, could not project when drone delivery would become the norm. Common challenges include safety concerns, weight limits, distance limits and weather restrictions.

"Although it will be a while before it is viable for drone mail delivery to take off in Singapore... this first step by SingPost and IDA demonstrates what Singapore is trying out with our smart nation vision," said IDA managing director Jacqueline Poh.

PHOTO: Common challenges include safety concerns, weight limits, distance limits and weather restrictions.
Posted by SPH Digital News on 08 October 2015 at 8:40 am SGT
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http://www.straitstimes.com/business/world-first-trial-to-deliver-mail-by-drone-lands-successfully-in-pulau-ubin

She said the vision is to have various parts of Singapore's ecosystem collaborating and experimenting with new ways of doing things.

SingPost received the green light from the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the Singapore Air Force and the Singapore Police Force for its first drone trial.

Last month, the Finnish postal service also tested the use of drones to deliver packages, although its test drone landed away from the designated landing zone.

PHOTO: SingPost trials mail delivery by drone with help from IDA
Drone depicted in photo not the same one used by SingPost.
Update: headline changed to reflect that the mail delivery by drone might not be the world’s first
Posted by Colin Tung on 08 Oct ober 2015
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PvwQO9T7EtA3JTbSFmeGyXhk7BtujC5ijykv18LE4u7aGbXqLrcAW5zt3b3VQhNejLSDnj6WSOHaSa0uJMBfNelCGYizGxzUf4Nu5etqEZcTghiDJWfuteBIRIaFV69IhxdBbSed2Dk/s1600/fc0c61ee-562d-4f72-99ff-a65353ffd7db_shutterstock_244004761-1.jpg
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http://e27.co/singpost-makes-world-first-mail-delivery-drone-20151008/

Republic Polytechnic lecturer Sasidharan Nair, who teaches a course on drone videography, said a drone would be handy for reaching offshore islands such as Sentosa or Pulau Ubin. "Other instances where drones can come in handy include medical emergencies, search and rescue missions and disaster management," he said.

By Irene Tham, mypaper, itham@sph.com.sg, Published on Oct 09, 2015

PHOTO: Drone deliveries start in Singapore
Drones can come in handy include medical emergencies, search and rescue missions and disaster management.
Posted by The Rakyat Post on Friday 09 October 2015
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http://www.therakyatpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/bigstock-Delivery-drone-55675544.jpg
http://www.newsunited.com/drone-deliveries-start-in-singapore-news/19033255/

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