A demonstration of drones and autonomous robots delivering parcels of up to 40 kg directly to customers’ doors has been completed in Jeju. The project is set to expand nationwide in the second half of the year, accelerating the commercialization of drone and robot delivery services.

The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) announced on the 24th that it has partnered with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) to establish a ‘Drone-Robot Collaborative Door-to-Door Delivery System.’ The core of the project involves developing a delivery drone capable of carrying up to 40 kg, a collaborative delivery robot system, and a docking station.

A drone carrying cargo departs from Geumneung, Jeju, heading for Biyangdo Island. Courtesy of KASA

Conventional drone delivery systems have struggled to deliver directly to a customer’s doorstep. The drone-robot collaborative system makes this possible. A drone carrying a 40 kg parcel takes off from a logistics warehouse, flies autonomously to a docking station near the delivery location, and lands. A robot then takes over, receiving the item and driving autonomously to the customer’s door.

KASA is pursuing research and development with the goal of establishing this transportation system. In the first phase of the demonstration, KASA, along with ETRI and R&D companies, tested door-to-door delivery of daily necessities weighing up to 40 kg between Geumneung Port and Biyangdo Island in Jeju for about a month, starting March 26. The service operated from 2 PM to 8 PM, Wednesday through Saturday, using the Geumneung Port Drone Delivery Center as a base and targeting 56 delivery points on Biyangdo Island.

The delivery items were diverse, including daily necessities, convenience goods, food delivery, and reverse delivery of local specialties. Users on Biyangdo Island could place orders through ‘Meokkkaebi,’ Jeju’s public drone delivery app, for immediate receipt. The system was also operated under various weather conditions and at night.

A drone and an autonomous robot collaborate to deliver a package to a doorstep on Biyangdo Island, Jeju. Courtesy of KASA

After addressing issues identified during the Jeju demonstration, KASA plans to expand the target areas in the second half of this year. The drone-robot collaborative delivery service is expected to enhance convenience for residents in logistics-deprived areas, such as islands and mountainous regions, while also being applicable to urban deliveries.

Administrator Oh Tae-seok said, “This demonstration, in collaboration with the local government, has served as an opportunity to showcase the achievements in fostering the drone-robot industry and to identify and address areas for improvement.” He added, “We will spare no effort to support the commercialization of domestic delivery services using drones and robots within five years.”

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