Autonomous cargo flights by drone company Elroy Air, foreseen to launch in 2023 via FedEx.
FedEx and Elroy Air Collaborate on Autonomous Cargo Drone Development
FedEx is working in collaboration with Elroy Air on the development of an autonomous cargo drone system, with the aim of revolutionizing cargo delivery operations within the aviation industry. The project, which began in January 2020, is part of the accelerating efforts in aviation R&D related to autonomous vehicles and drone technology.
The focus of the collaboration is the Chaparral drone, a hybrid VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. The Chaparral drone is designed to take off and land vertically like a helicopter but fly efficiently like an airplane, making it well-suited for medium-range cargo delivery to remote or hard-to-reach locations.
The Chaparral drone is equipped with a hybrid-electric engine and boasts 12 electric motors and 12 propellers. It can carry a weight of up to 250 kg and travel up to 300 miles. The drone is not intended for door-to-door delivery in this project, but for the mid-stage of cargo delivery operations, specifically middle-mile transport between storage centers.
FedEx and Elroy Air are currently in an active testing and development phase throughout 2025, with planned expansions contingent on successful demonstration flights. The parties aim to start flight trials for the Chaparral drone in 2023. Endpoint deliveries (or pickups) will still be made through FedEx's existing cargo transportation network.
Elroy Air is working on a cargo system that operates autonomously from start to finish. The successful implementation of this project could potentially lead to significant changes in cargo delivery operations within the aviation industry, as previously mentioned. The use of autonomous drones in the mid-stage of cargo delivery operations is aimed to accelerate transportation by approximately five times compared to road transportation.
Future plans include expanding the scale of these tests and moving toward commercial operations if testing is successful. This aligns with FedEx’s broader strategy to incorporate autonomous aerial logistics to reduce delivery times and costs in specific regional corridors.
No indication from available sources suggests any major delays or cancellations; rather, the project appears to be progressing steadily with both companies committed to advancing the Chaparral VTOL technology for practical use in FedEx’s supply chain.
Sports can potentially benefit from the advancements in drone technology, as the Chaparral drone's fast transportation could be useful in delivering sports equipment or supplies quickly. The collaborative project between FedEx and Elroy Air on the Chaparral drone could revolutionize not only cargo delivery within the aviation industry but also sports logistics.
