Engineers at the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI) are working on a concept for unmanned cargo delivery over short distances. They plan to use fixed-wing drones with vertical take-off and landing. According to the developers, the system will optimize logistics routes, speed up delivery, and partially solve the problem of courier shortages.

A fixed-wing drone consumes less energy than a multirotor. Lift is generated by the wings, so less energy is expended per kilogram of cargo. This allows for smaller batteries and less frequent charging.

The benefit is especially noticeable on long routes – the further the delivery, the more efficient the system. According to project leader Roman Kim, the first real air deliveries could begin next year.

Engineers are counting on a hybrid scheme. The drone delivers the cargo to an intermediate point, where it is sorted, and then the package is delivered by a person or a small robot-rover. 

The system is designed for delivering goods up to 15 kg over a distance of 10–15 km – for example, orders from stores or postal items.

In some cases, a drone can be faster than a car. For example, in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where the city is divided by the Amur River: by road, the journey can increase from 5–7 km to 15–20 km, while a drone flies directly.

Potential customers for the technology include marketplaces, grocery retailers, and logistics companies. A test flight has already been completed with cargo delivery using a drone from BAS Glory Air.