Demonstrating The ROI Of DJI FlyCart 30 Delivery Drone

• Case studies demonstrate the value of deploying the DJI FlyCart 30;

• FlyCart 30 transports up to 400 solar panels over difficult terrain in one day, compared to the delivery of 20 pieces a day using traditional methods;

• Ship supply business cuts travel times from half-an-hour to six minutes - and saves on costs associated with manning and fuelling delivery boats; 

• Volunteer rescue team using FlyCart 30 for faster medical supply delivery to the frontline: Trials show it now takes less than five minutes, instead of two hours.

The DJI FlyCart 30 delivery drone brings significant ROI benefits - user-success stories show.

A selection of DJI Delivery case studies demonstrate the value and potential of deploying this heavy-lift aerial transport solution across a range of industries - increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and easily reaching areas which have been traditionally hard to access. 

In one example, the drone navigated mountainous terrain to help deliver 400 solar panels in a day - compared to 20 panels using traditional, manual methods.

And in a water transport scenario, DJI FlyCart 30 increased the speed of carrying supplies to ships, slashing delivery times from half-an-hour using transport boats to six minutes by drone - and reducing the costs associated with manning and fuelling these delivery vessels.

The drone has also enabled a volunteer search and rescue team to transport vital medical equipment to the frontline in less than five minutes, as part of practice drills in a post-earthquake disaster scenario. Previous techniques would take up to two hours. 

These examples come from China, where the DJI FlyCart 30 was released in 2023, ahead of its wider global launch in January 2024. 

This blog explores these user-success stories in more detail, and shows how the DJI FlyCart 30 - which can carry a 30kg payload for 18km and utilise either a cargo box or winch mechanism - can benefit a range of applications.

heliguy™ is a DJI FlyCart 30 partner and can help organisations integrate it within their workflows, including training and OSC (Operating Safety Case) consultation.

DJI FlyCart 30 For Water Transport And Ship To Shore Delivery

The DJI FlyCart 30 has increased efficiency and generated cost-savings for the Nanjing Changjiang Hui anchorage delivery business, which operates along the Yangtze River - a significant inland waterway channel in China, spanning nine provinces and two cities. 

Traditionally, the company has deployed transport boats to conduct the critical and challenging task of providing essential supply services for ships anchored at Wuyuzhou.

But, this meant:

• The team would have to travel up to 10km to the anchorage, with a transportation time of about half an hour.

• The labour cost for each individual onboard a ship is at least 100,000 RMB (equivalent of around £10,000) a year.

• The fuel consumption of each boat is considerable.

However, DJI FlyCart 30 revolutionises this - taking just six minutes to complete a round trip. This saves costs and improves efficiency.

Jiashan Ge, Deputy General Manager, Jiangsu Changjiang Hui Technology Co, Ltd, said: "The FlyCart 30 that we are currently piloting can fly 20km with a payload of 20kg. The last mile shipping service that we advocate at Changjiang Hui has truly come to pass."

During delivery, the team utilises AR Projection and Route Recording functionality with DJI Pilot 2: AR Projection assists with the precise landing and cargo drop-off when using the winch system, while Route Recording enables the drone to automatically fly along recorded flight plans - greatly reduceing the workload of the pilots.

Mr Ge added: "The DJI FlyCart 30 is a real innovation for the entire shipping industry."

DJI FlyCart 30 Improves Accessibility In Hard To Reach Locations

Southwestern China has become an important region for the development of solar panels.

Construction workers from Anhui Zhongjin Transmissions and Transformation Engineering Co Ltd have had to tackle the rugged mountainous landscape, including steep slopes, with gradients reaching 45°.

This makes transporting infrastructure, such as solar panels, challenging and laborious. Using traditional manual labour, the team can only transport 15 to 20 photovoltaic panels a day.

However, FlyCart 30 is well-suited to address the terrain problems that the project encounters.

In comparison, the DJI FlyCart 30 can transport between 180 and 400 pieces in a single day.

And there is no need for repetitive take-offs and landing during the loading and unloading process - as the FlyCart 30's winch system releases cargo automatically upon touchdown.

"This greatly enhances our transport efficiency," says Tao Hao, site manager of the photovoltaic project in Nawei, Luodian.

The company has benefited from Dual Operator Mode on the DJI RC Plus: When the drone flies beyond the line of sight of the first operator, the second operator can take over, enhancing operational safety and improving the distance of line of site flights.

Mr Hao said: "Technology drives productivity and DJI FlyCart 30's successful application in our project is a perfect example." 

DJI FlyCart 30 Increases Search & Rescue Efficiency

The Shenzhen Rescue Volunteers Federation, a self-formed rescue squad, played a pivotal role in the 2023 Turkey earthquake relief efforts.

Recently, they incorporated the DJI FlyCart 30 into their earthquake rescue drills to expedite the delivery of crucial life-saving equipment to first responders.

The drone's assistance slashed the delivery time from several hours to a mere 4-5 minutes, significantly boosting the efficiency of search and rescue operations in disaster-stricken areas. Find out more by watching the video below.

Revolutionising Mountain Logistics At World Heritage Site

Mount Huangshan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, draws millions of visitors annually with its breathtaking natural beauty. However, supplying the mountaintop hotels and shops with food, water, and other essentials has been a monumental challenge.

Traditionally, porters had to carry these supplies up and down the mountain on their backs - a task that was both time-consuming and physically demanding.

The arrival of the FlyCart 30 has been a game-changer at Mount Huangshan - assisting the porters by drastically reducing the time and effort needed for deliveries.

An ascent that once took hours of gruelling labour has been shortened to 17 minutes. As of January 2024, the DJI FlyCart 30 has transported a total of 250 tonnes of goods up and down the mountain, revolutionising logistics at this popular tourist destination. Watch the video below for more details.

Summary

These success stories demonstrate the tangible benefits of deploying the DJI FlyCart 30: Increased efficiencies, reduced costs, and no longer are operations impacted by physical geography.

For some, the FlyCart 30 is a solution that can be used immediately, whereas for others, it offers an exciting glimpse of what can be achieved in the future.

As such, the release of the FlyCart 30 heralds a new chapter in the drone industry and edges standardised drone delivery that bit closer.

To discuss the DJI FlyCart 30, including integrating it within your workflows and associated training and permissions, contact us.