Ulju County in Ulsan Demonstrates Commercialization of 'K-Drone Delivery' Linking Convenience Stores and Wholesale Networks

'Pickup Type' for Convenience Store Products,
'Stock Type' for Wholesale Items

Ulju County in Ulsan is accelerating the establishment of a K-Drone Delivery commercialization model by conducting demonstrations that connect existing convenience stores and wholesale distribution networks to drone delivery services.

On September 14, Ulju County announced that, as part of this year's drone demonstration city development project, it conducted the "Ulju K-Drone Delivery Service Distribution and Logistics Connection Demonstration" in collaboration with the Korea Drone Delivery Association, Sejong Cyber University Industry-Academia Cooperation Group, drone delivery companies, and others.

This demonstration was designed to validate a K-Drone Delivery commercialization model that links existing distribution and logistics networks with drone delivery services, covering the full process from actual order placement, product preparation, and shipping, to customer receipt.

Assuming scenarios where visitors to tourist attractions utilize the drone delivery service, the demonstration reviewed the entire logistics and distribution process, including order placement, securing products, inspection and packaging, entry to the delivery hub, drone loading and operation, customer receipt, and the confirmation of delivery quality and operation records.

The demonstrations were carried out on September 9 in Seosaeng-myeon and on September 12 in Sangbuk-myeon. The focus was on verifying both the efficiency and the commercialization potential of drone-based delivery operations in regions such as mountainous or coastal tourist areas, where access for conventional delivery services is limited.

In particular, two logistics methods were applied to connect the existing distribution network with drone delivery: the 'pickup type' and the 'stock type.' The pickup type was applied to GS25 convenience store products, and the stock type was used for wholesale distribution products, validating the applicability of these approaches within real logistics and distribution processes.

In the pickup type, once a customer places an order, the delivery operator travels from the delivery hub to the partner store, picks up the product directly, returns to the delivery hub for packaging and loading, and then delivers it via drone.

For the stock type, products are pre-stocked at the delivery hub via the wholesale distribution network, and once a customer places an order, the item is immediately packaged and delivered by drone.

On September 9, at the Jinha Public Parking Lot delivery hub in Seosaeng-myeon, a system test was conducted. AMP was responsible for deliveries and applied both the stock type and pickup type methods to refrigerated and frozen items, conducting a total of four system demonstrations.

Subsequently, on September 12, Bolloland performed drone deliveries from the delivery hub located in the Jakcheonjeong area of Sangbuk-myeon to Ganwoljae. They confirmed the feasibility of applying delivery services for tourists and hikers, such as food, beverages, coffee, and convenience goods, to tourist destinations.

Ulju County recorded operational data for each stage, not only regarding successful deliveries, but also order times, product picking and packing times, drone loading times, departure and arrival times, flight durations, and battery usage.

The delivered products were equipped with SmartPod devices to monitor temperature, impact, and location data, capturing temperature, shock, and GPS information throughout transportation, as well as inspecting for any product damage, leakage, or deformation before and after delivery.

Ulju County plans to analyze the operational data collected during this demonstration to improve the efficiency of each stage—order, pickup, packaging, delivery—and utilize it to build a sustainable K-Drone Delivery commercialization model that connects tourist attractions and residential areas in the future.

An official from Ulju County stated, "Through this demonstration, we have verified the feasibility of operating a service that connects convenience stores, distribution networks, delivery hubs, and drones into a real logistics system," adding, "Based on this experience, we plan to expand drone delivery services that residents and tourists can experience firsthand."

Ulju County is validating a lifestyle drone delivery model.

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