Wingcopter’s LieferMichel pilot project, which has been bringing drone and cargo bike deliveries to Michelstadt, Germany residents, has announced an extension of the project. This extension not only ensures continued smaller errand deliveries but also introduces a new service—deliveries of non-prescription medicines.
The project aims to achieve safe drone flight operations in unrestricted airspace, including over winter months, and analyze the demand for delivery services in rural areas. The Bären-Apotheke pharmacy has joined the platform, offering a selection of non-prescription medicines based on specific requests from residents.
“We are always looking for ways to offer our customers an even better shopping experience and improve local supply options. Here in rural areas, the long distances often make it difficult for sick people to get their medication quickly. We are therefore very pleased to be gaining initial experience with drone-based deliveries as part of the LieferMichel project,” says Frank Buffleb, pharmacist and owner of Bären Apotheke in Erbach.
“Delivering medicines is part of our DNA at Wingcopter. This is an exciting learning experience and an important milestone in this project,” comments Ansgar Kadura, co-founder and Chief Services Officer of Wingcopter.
Prof. Dr. Kai-Oliver Schocke, President of the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, remarks, “The expansion of the range to include non-prescription medical supplies shows the attractiveness of the project and demonstrates the demand for individual services in this sector too.”
LieferMichel is a collaborative pilot project by Wingcopter and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) under the “Innovative Air Mobility” directive. This application-oriented research project allows for testing new technologies in regular operations, offering insights for future commercialization. Residents of the Michelstadt districts of Würzberg and Rehbach can conveniently order products online from various local providers via the website www.liefermichel.de. These products are then delivered by Wingcopter’s delivery drone to designated landing points, followed by the last-mile delivery to the customer’s front door using an electric cargo bike. With over 2,000 kilometers flown to date, the project continues to set new benchmarks in rural drone delivery. Other project partners include Vodafone and Riese & Müller.
