Jinju City Launches Onsite Pilot of Urban Delivery Technology Combining Drones and Autonomous Robots

Pilot Test Runs in Jinju Innovation City, Chungmugong-dong, from August 24 to 29
Verifying Delivery Methods for Up to 40 kg Cargo

Jinju City, South Gyeongsang Province, announced that onsite verification testing for the "Development of Urban High-Weight Cargo Multimodal Delivery Technology Linking Drones and Robots" project, promoted by the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) and the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), is being conducted from August 24 to August 29 in the area of Jinju Innovation City, Chungmugong-dong.

This pilot aims to verify both the technological feasibility and operational processes of a delivery system that connects drones and autonomous robots for cargo deliveries within urban areas.

The process involves a drone, capable of carrying up to 40 kg of cargo, departing from a delivery base and transporting the payload to a docking station installed near an urban area. Once there, an autonomous driving robot takes over and delivers the cargo to the final destination. A key feature of this technology is that the robot is responsible for areas around buildings or final delivery routes where drones have operational limitations.

[Photo by Jinju City] A field demonstration of urban delivery technology linking drones and autonomous driving robots is underway in Chungmugong-dong, Jinju Innovation City, Jinju.

For the Jinju pilot, an open lot near the Eunhasu Dongsan Toy Bank by the Nam River serves as the delivery base. The drone flies approximately 1.7 km, delivering cargo to a docking station set up in an open area adjacent to Mul Chool Park. From there, the autonomous robot retrieves the cargo and delivers it to the front of each building in the Centum River Park Apartment complex in Jinju Innovation City about 0.4 km away.

The delivery items being tested include toys and children's books requested by local residents through the Eunhasu Dongsan Toy Bank and nearby children's libraries. Over 40 delivery runs are scheduled during the pilot period, with operating hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Onsite safety management is also being implemented. Jinju City has secured two emergency landing zones along the flight route and is proactively managing safety by controlling takeoff and landing areas and deploying safety personnel to prevent accidents during the pilot.

This project, a government-supported national initiative running from 2023 through this year, aims to develop and commercialize technology that connects drones and robots for the end-to-end transport of cargo weighing up to 40 kg within urban areas.

Similar field pilots were previously carried out on Biyeongdo Island in Jeju and in Sacheon City. The Jinju pilot specifically examines the integrated operation of drones and autonomous driving robots in a residential apartment complex environment.

A Jinju City official stated, "The purpose of this pilot is to apply the developed delivery technology to real urban residential settings and verify operational procedures and onsite conditions. We are cooperating with related agencies to ensure that the pilot proceeds both safely and smoothly."

This field pilot, which integrates drones and autonomous robots, is noteworthy for its real-world trial of next-generation logistics technology in a residential area.

However, for the technology’s commercial deployment, comprehensive verification is needed not only for delivery efficiency but also regarding issues closely related to everyday life, such as flight and pedestrian safety, noise, and personal data protection.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.