NEXT DELIVERY Co., Ltd.
Japan’s first commercialization of drone delivery using “Level 3.5” flight ~ Great acceleration towards social implementation of new smart logistics ~ ……
NEXT DELIVERY Co., Ltd. (Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, Representative Director: Keisuke Taji, hereinafter referred to as NEXT DELIVERY), Aeronext Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and CEO: Keisuke Taji, hereinafter referred to as Aeronext), Seino Holdings Co., Ltd. ( Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, President and CEO: Yoshitaka Taguchi (hereinafter referred to as SEINO HD), and Kamishihoro Town, Hokkaido (Mayor: Mitsugu Takenaka, hereinafter referred to as Kamishihoro Town) will be conducting a newly established drone flight program from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism on Friday, December 8th. After receiving level 3.5*1 flight approval, we conducted Japan’s first level 3.5 drone delivery business in Kamishihoro Town on December 11th (Monday).
Regarding the establishment of Level 3.5, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced the deregulation and future policy regarding drones at the first Startup and Investment Working Group of the Regulatory Reform Promotion Council held on November 17th. It was announced that implementation is scheduled to begin within the year. Level 3.5 means eliminating current access control measures such as the placement of assistants and signboards through the use of digital technology (confirming the presence of pedestrians etc. using an onboard camera), as well as eliminating the need to have a license to operate an unmanned aircraft. By purchasing insurance, flights that involve crossing roads, railways, etc. are made easier, which leads to reductions in drone operating costs and improved work efficiency, and is a huge move toward commercializing drone delivery.
(*Please refer to this video for details of the day.)
[Video 2: [Image 1
(Created by NEXT DELIVERY based on Google Earth)
[Points unique to level 3.5]
Achieving “unmanned collection side”: Implemented landing without an assistant on the collection side. Restaurant staff (previously lectured) attached luggage to the drone and prepared for takeoff. No assistants or signboards placed on the route
When crossing the national highway*4, there is no temporary stop after safety confirmation.
[Image 3
(Created by NEXT DELIVERY based on Google Earth)
[Points unique to level 3.5]
Realization of “unmanned landing side”: There are no assistants or pilots on the landing side, the drone automatically lands, the box containing the newspaper is cut off and placed in front of a private home, and after takeoff, residents pick up the box. I picked it up and checked the contents.
No assistants or signboards placed on the route
Aeronext and NEXT DELIVERY, in collaboration with Seino HD, are promoting a new smart logistics*5SkyHub(R)*6 that combines drone delivery and land transportation that contributes to solving regional issues, and has already been implemented in Kamishihoro Town across the country. We are currently in the social implementation phase in 9 local governments*7, including the following: Starting with this implementation, we will gradually begin Level 3.5 flights in these local governments and accelerate the speed of social implementation.