Drone DJ and Freight Waves also reported the news, which was confirmed by a DHL spokesperson. The first DHL parcel drone was test flown in 2013, when it flew over the Rhine, travelled one kilometre and made a successful landing. The drone was controlled from the ground and its route was marked so that the controller could follow it all the way.
It took another three years for the company to send a self-guiding drone to an isolated spot in the Alps with a third-generation drone. The original plan was for the vehicles to deliver various supplies of medicine and food to hard-to-reach places (such as accident or disaster sites) as quickly as possible.
But DHL decided to suspend the trial because, despite the positive benefits of the device, it had not solved a number of technical problems. So, for the time being, drone delivery is certainly not a viable service. Moreover, the innovation has not proved to be a good business decision either, as there is not enough demand due to the high costs. And speed alone is no guarantee of success, as people will only pay for such services if there is a real emergency.
Amazon also experimented with this in 2013, with a project called Prime Air, which the company suspended shortly afterwards. Although DHL’s drones are still in circulation, their clock is ticking.
More articles you may be interested in...
Electric airplane News & Articles
eVTOL vs. Electric airplanes: Which will dominate short-haul flights?
Drones News & Articles
How China is revolutionizing drone manufacturing
China’s dominance in drone manufacturing is no accident. It’s the result of a calculated blend of industrial policy, technological innovation, and supply chain mastery that has propelled the country to control 70-80% of the global commercial drone market as of 2025. From consumer quadcopters to military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),...>>>...READ MORE
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
The VarEVolt battery’s 18-second charge breakthrough
This cutting-edge battery, capable of fully charging in a mere 18 seconds, has recently received Conformity of Production (CoP) certification,...>>>...READ MORE
Air taxi News & Articles
How will eVTOLs and modern aircraft be integrated into urban transport ?
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
China’s role in fast-tracking eVTOL development
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Horizon Aircraft and Andrea Mocellin collaborate on the Cavorite X
News & Articles Points of interest
The ascent of iRonCub3, the world’s first jet-powered humanoid
News & Articles Points of interest
Vertiports vs. airports: Costs and urban planning challenges
Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft represent a transformative leap in urban mobility, promising...>>>...READ MORE
moreDrones News & Articles
China’s mosquito-sized drone and the global race for micro-UAVs Introduction to micro-UAV technology
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
GAC’s Govy AirCab eVTOL unveiled
News & Articles Propulsion-Fuel
Achieving 90% fuel reduction in aviation
The aviation industry stands at a critical juncture, with global air travel demand projected to...>>>...READ MORE
Drones News & Articles
China’s plasma propulsion breakthrough
EVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
The Present and Future of Asia in the Manufacture and use of eVTOLs and various modern aircraft (2025–2030)
Asia is poised to redefine global aviation through its leadership in advanced air mobility (AAM),...>>>...READ MORE
moreEVTOL & VTOL News & Articles
Ehang forges strategic partnership with Changchun Jingyue high-tech zone to deploy 41 eh216-s units for evtol applications in extreme cold regions
In a significant step for urban air mobility (UAM), EHang Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: EH), a global leader in UAM technology, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Management Committee of Changchun, Jilin Province. The collaboration seeks to create a provincial-level demonstration zone for low-altitude economic development, combining industrial expansion,...>>>...READ MORE