Drones

Bizzby begins trials of its peer-to-peer drone delivery service

Bizzby begins trials of its peer-to-peer drone delivery service
Bizzby has started conducting trials of its Bizzby Sky drone delivery service
Bizzby has started conducting trials of its Bizzby Sky drone delivery service
View 23 Images
Bizzby has started conducting trials of its Bizzby Sky drone delivery service
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Bizzby has started conducting trials of its Bizzby Sky drone delivery service
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
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Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
3/23
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
4/23
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
Confirming the booking will see a Bizzby Sky drone dispatched to the user's location using GPS
5/23
Confirming the booking will see a Bizzby Sky drone dispatched to the user's location using GPS
The Bizzby Sky system aims to tap into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds
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The Bizzby Sky system aims to tap into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds
Items are placed in a storage box attached to the drone's body and can weigh up to 500 g (1.1 lb)
7/23
Items are placed in a storage box attached to the drone's body and can weigh up to 500 g (1.1 lb)
The Bizzby Sky system aims to tap into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds
8/23
The Bizzby Sky system aims to tap into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds
Confirming the booking will see a Bizzby Sky drone dispatched to the user's location using GPS
9/23
Confirming the booking will see a Bizzby Sky drone dispatched to the user's location using GPS
The Bizzby Sky system aims to tap into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds
10/23
The Bizzby Sky system aims to tap into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the smart device
11/23
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the smart device
Items are placed in a storage box beneath the drone's body and can weigh up to 500 g (1.1 lb)
12/23
Items are placed in a storage box beneath the drone's body and can weigh up to 500 g (1.1 lb)
The Bizzby Sky system aims to tap into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds
13/23
The Bizzby Sky system aims to tap into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
14/23
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
15/23
Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device
The Bizzby Sky drone has sensors designed to detect and avoid obstacles in its path and adhere to restrictions on fly zones
16/23
The Bizzby Sky drone has sensors designed to detect and avoid obstacles in its path and adhere to restrictions on fly zones
Through the Bizzby Sky app, a user can request a drone, select the delivery location and the type of item to be shipped
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Through the Bizzby Sky app, a user can request a drone, select the delivery location and the type of item to be shipped
Through the Bizzby Sky app, a user can request a drone, select the delivery location and the type of item to be shipped
18/23
Through the Bizzby Sky app, a user can request a drone, select the delivery location and the type of item to be shipped
The Bizzby Sky drone has sensors designed to detect and avoid obstacles in its path and adhere to restrictions on fly zones
19/23
The Bizzby Sky drone has sensors designed to detect and avoid obstacles in its path and adhere to restrictions on fly zones
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View gallery - 23 images

It's hard not to get caught up in the romance of delivery drones, especially when start-ups keep producing spiffy promotional videos set in a fantastical land of airborne courier services. But underneath all this hoopla, progress is certainly being made. London-based Bizzby Sky has begun trials of its autonomous drone delivery service, claiming it is capable of shipping small objects at the touch of a smartphone button.

The Bizzby Sky team has engineered its drones over a number of years at London's TechCity, Britain's answer to Silicon Valley. Their system is aimed at tapping into the ubiquity of smart devices and enable anybody to book their own delivery drone within seconds.

Say you've got one of those semi-emergencies, such as a family member locked out of the house or the delicious sandwich you made for lunch this morning sitting neglected on the kitchen counter. Through the Bizzby Sky app, a user can request a drone, select the delivery location and the type of item to be shipped.

Through the Bizzby Sky app, a user can request a drone, select the delivery location and the type of item to be shipped
Through the Bizzby Sky app, a user can request a drone, select the delivery location and the type of item to be shipped

The app will then quote a price for the service and estimate the delivery time. Once the booking is confirmed, a Bizzby Sky drone will then be dispatched to the client's desired location using GPS so they can load their cargo. Items are placed in a storage box beneath the drone's body and can weigh up to 500 g (1.1 lb) before the drone is then sent on its way to deliver the cargo to its ultimate destination.

Capable of flying at an altitude of 400 ft (121 m), the drone also features a built-in camera which streams its view to the screen of the client's smart device. Onboard sensors are designed to detect and avoid obstacles in its path and ensure it adheres to restrictions on fly zones.

One difference between this and some other drone delivery approaches is that Bizzby Sky is designed to move everyday items between everyday people. Amazon Prime, for example, is basically an extension of its e-tailer service in shipping items out to customers after they are purchased.

Items are placed in a storage box beneath the drone's body and can weigh up to 500 g (1.1 lb)
Items are placed in a storage box beneath the drone's body and can weigh up to 500 g (1.1 lb)

As is more or less the case around the world, legislation won't allow Bizzby to roll the service out across England just yet, and it cites this as its main obstacle. It also concedes further work is needed on the drone's battery power, weight and flight distance before it is ready for market.

In the meantime you can watch the demonstration video, which paints a rather captivating picture of utopia as delivered by drone.

Source: Bizzby Sky

BIZZBY SKY - Drones On-Demand

View gallery - 23 images
6 comments
6 comments
Brian M
Love to see the business plan for this - a business based on something that is not legal (and you would be caught), which has currently very limited capabilities and range. The investors must be using it as a tax loss vehicle!
Greg Webber
Would it ever get to its destination when windy or raining?
Rustin Lee Haase
I'd classify this idea along with the Segway 2-wheeled personal transports. It works mechanically on a nice day where everyone around you is friendly and honest. It would be fun to play with but doesn't cut it in adverse weather/social/government conditions. With too many of these around, one could make a good living harvesting these from the sky using spinning net launchers and selling the parts. I'd sooner go with machines that run along wires like squirrels or networks of pneumatic tubes through the ground. Both would be much more reliable in the real world.
Matthew Bailey
This is a drug dealer's dream! Other than that I can't think of a reason for this based on the range limitations. But I said the same thing about the fax machine...
warren52nz
This is a preview to the future. These are simply too useful to not "get off the ground". There are already drones that can fly for hours on a single charge already and the technology is improving daily.
yankee_wahkah
Pure rubbish. A DJI Naza Lite flying an automated mission? haha