Car manufacturer uses drones to transport parts

‘Drone transport is going to revolutionise logistics’

Drones are being used to speed up logistical processes (SWNS)

A car manufacturer is bypassing traffic and reducing carbon emissions by using drones to transport equipment to its production line.

SEAT has decided to speed up its logistical process by loading parts into a carbon fibre capsule and attaching them to the drone with an electromagnet.

The Spanish firm has released footage of the procedure, which can reduce the delivery time of parts by 80 per cent.

The video shows a steering wheel being attached to the drone at the Grupo Sesé Logistics Centre in Abrera, near Martorell, Spain.

It then takes off from the launch pad for the 2km trip to SEAT’s assembly workshop.

The drone, which has a 1.7-metre diameter, flies 95 metres above ground at speeds of up to 25mph before dropping off the capsule at its destination four minutes later.

It takes 15 minutes for the steering wheel to be ordered and transported to the production line where it is fitted to the new car.

“Drone transport is going to revolutionise logistics,” said SEAT vice-president for production and logistics, Dr Christian Vollmer.

The system is emissions-free as drones run on electric batteries, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by around 1 tonne per year.

The Spanish Aviation Safety Agency is supervising the project.

SWNS