Volansi, NCDOT to begin commercial, middle-mile drone delivery projects in North Carolina

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Cargo drone delivery service provider Volansi has signed a teaming agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to begin commercial, middle-mile drone delivery projects in North Carolina.

Volansi and NCDOT will collaborate with the FAA to gather data on drone delivery programs and how they could be incorporated long-term into the current transportation infrastructure and regulations.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to work closely with the FAA and the N.C. Department of Transportation to help shape how drones fit into our home country’s infrastructure,” says Hannan Parvizian, CEO and co-founder of Volansi.

“We believe that one day, autonomous flight will be as commonplace and accessible as mailing a letter, and Volansi technology will play a pivotal part in this transport revolution.”

As part of the UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) in North Carolina, Volansi will initially perform tests and visual line of sight (VLOS) cargo delivery flights under the Part 107 small UAS rule. The goal is to scale to more projects with additional waivers and permissions with the support of NCDOT and the FAA.  

Volansi’s all-electric, hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAS, the VOLY C10- Gen 2, will initially be used during the projects. According to Volansi, this enables its drones to complete “complex, two-way missions with minimal to zero infrastructure needs.” The drones are capable of fully landing at the delivery point, allowing them to deliver and return cargo such as samples for analysis and diagnosis, or parts for repair.

Capable of carrying up to 10 pounds of cargo over 50 miles, the VOLY C10 flies autonomously. All operations of the UAS are handled by Volansi’s in-house Flight Operations team, which provides customers with an end-to-end delivery service.