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A pair of drones ascends against the backdrop of a shopping center on Dublin’s outskirts, each carrying a small paper bag as they reach an altitude of 70 feet (21 meters). As they tilt forward and buzz off in various directions, the scene unfolds on a tranquil morning in the Irish capital, with onlookers seemingly oblivious to the ongoing drone activity.
“No one ever looks up,” remarks Bobby Healy, founder of the Dublin-based startup Manna Aero, highlighting the public’s indifference to the burgeoning atmosphere of drone logistics. However, these flying machines are not merely a spectacle; they are part of an ambitious goal shared by tech giants like Amazon, Google’s Wing, and the Californian firm Zipline: to revolutionize instant, autonomous home delivery.
As Healy and his counterparts in the tech world set their sights on transforming retail logistics throughout Ireland and, eventually, the UK, they face both investor skepticism and public inquiries—especially after previous drone delivery trials in Australia encountered significant backlash.
Currently, Amazon has drone operations ongoing in Texas, Arizona, and Italy, while seeking regulatory approval to expand into England. In parallel, Wing is already conducting deliveries in multiple countries. Manna Aero, with its operations concentrated in Dublin, has conducted over 200,000 successful delivery flights in the area and even expanded to Helsinki, Finland, forging partnerships with platforms like Just Eat and DoorDash to potentially broaden its customer base, which includes restaurants, bookstores, and hardware stores.
Using Manna’s dedicated app, an order for two coffees was placed for delivery. Moments later, a small dot on the horizon transformed into a quadcopter gliding above Dublin’s suburban landscape. It arrived in the backyard, hovered briefly, and gently released the paper bag containing the beverages before disappearing back into the ether. The delivery took a mere 16 minutes, inclusive of preparation time—a notable improvement compared to the minimum 11 minutes typically required for human delivery via an e-bike.
Importantly, the drones are designed for efficiency; without a human on board, they consume significantly less energy. Each drone is capable of completing around 80 deliveries daily—more than double the standard output of a human delivery person. Furthermore, a single drone “pilot” can supervise up to 20 drones simultaneously, a factor that adds to the operational efficiency of Manna Aero.
Autonomous Drone Operations
Manna’s drones operate autonomously once loaded and cleared for takeoff. Typically, they reach the delivery location six minutes later, hovering momentarily to ensure the area is clear of obstacles, as confirmed by video feed seen by the pilot back at the base. Healy argues that the traditional delivery model—relying on human couriers—is flawed, particularly in suburban contexts where efficiency is essential.
Healy, a tech entrepreneur with a storied background including the founding of various businesses, established Manna in 2018 with a vision to create a global impact through technology. The drones crafted by Manna’s specialized teams are made predominantly using aerospace-grade components sourced from outside Ireland, weighing approximately 51 pounds (23 kg) and having the capacity to carry loads of up to 8.8 pounds (4 kg).
This payload capacity is sufficient for various deliveries, such as four large pizzas or multiple books. However, logistical challenges remain; for instance, one delivery of toilet paper had to be divided due to spatial constraints. “Must have been an emergency,” quips Healy.
The drones are equipped with eight motors, which provides stability; they can operate safely even with just four active motors in an emergency. Additionally, safety mechanisms include an inbuilt parachute, which has only been deployed once in over 200,000 flights, underscoring the reliability of their technology. Moreover, the European aerospace regulatory bodies have validated the company’s technical frameworks.
Growth Prospects
Manna’s current operational area serves around 150,000 residents in Blanchardstown, with plans to extend service to roughly one million people in the Dublin region by the end of the year. Challenges persist in densely populated city centers, where short delivery distances and limited garden space might hinder drone use; however, future rooftop deliveries could hold promise.
While striving for UK expansion, regulatory factors have hindered Manna’s progress. The adoption of EU drone standards in April could potentially facilitate their entry into the UK market sooner than anticipated, possibly starting within the year or definitively by 2026. Currently, in Ireland, consumers are charged a delivery fee of €1.99 (£1.73), but Healy indicates that customers in the UK might enjoy free delivery at launch, with businesses absorbing the costs through commissions.
Despite the encouraging metrics of profitability on every flight, the challenges of scaling operations remain daunting, particularly as Manna has operated on a relatively modest €60 million in venture capital funding, with high-profile investors such as Coca-Cola and Patrick Collison of Stripe backing the venture.
Healy remains enthusiastic about the transformative potential of drone deliveries, acknowledging that some customers may be hesitant about the concept of instant commerce. While birds have learned to evade these flying machines, challenges from competing drone operators loom ahead, necessitating strategic solutions. Healy envisions a future where drones could reshape commerce, allowing small businesses to thrive against larger competitors: “If you can deliver everything within three minutes, it creates opportunities to disrupt giants like Amazon.”
Source
www.theguardian.com