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Introducing Droneliner
Shipping Containers in the Sky
Welcome to Droneliner - Autonomous Drone Air Freight
Droneliner is a transformational global airfreight system. It carries 40 or more lightweight 20ft shipping containers in a remotely-piloted roll-on/roll-off drone, providing same-day/next-day worldwide bulk cargo delivery.
Airfreight Costs Too Much
Decisions to ship by air or sea come down to two factors – Cost and Time
Air freight is cost prohibitive due to the limited payload, the amount and cost of fuel used, the complexities of the loading/unloading process and the crew payroll
Sea freight takes much longer (weeks instead of days) but it costs less. Containers make sea freight work efficiently and at low cost but current aircraft are not designed to handle them.
Droneliner can reduce the cost of airfreight by more than 70% and bring it down to levels comparable to sea freight whilst also reducing the delivery time and reducing emissions. It makes airfreight a viable option for many more goods.
The challenges of shipping today
Inefficient Repurposed Airliners
Today's air freight planes were designed and built to carry passengers not containers. Shipping containers simply won’t fit in round-sided fuselages. Ex-passenger airliners are only suitable for carrying small packages. It's impossible to utilise all the space in a hold with a domed roof.
Archaic Handling Methods
Air Cargo has to be unpacked and repacked onto netted pallets and ULDs by teams of manual labourers - four times per flight. Manhandling each and every item is extremely labour intensive . And all of this adds days of significant delays to the delivery process.
Vulnerable Supply Chains
Recent events have shown how easy it is for supply chains to get blocked or closed. Pandemics and fears of infection create fragile ecosystems for traditional staffed ports and transport methods. This can add time and cost to the supply chain.
Clogged Ports
Shipping ports are getting busier and more congested as container ships grow in number and in size. And airports still prioritise passenger traffic and flow adding to the delays in the delivery of cargo. Again, adding time and cost to the supply chain.
Droneliner provides the answer
Lightweight intermodal 20-ft containers
No pilots (a long-haul airliner needs multiple crew)
Heavy lifting (200-ton or 350-ton payload)
90%+ reduction in handling costs
Efficient roll-on/roll-off freight system
6,500-mile range
Lifts 40 or 70 5-ton carrying 20ft containers
Hyperactive: 1 hour turnaround
Highly flexible cargo configuration
Ultra-low-drag airframe
Off-the-shelf components
Low-cost modular construction
A fraction of the operating costs
95% reduction in CO2 emissions
The Aircraft
DL200
DL200
DL200
Single boosted engine + EV power
Two decks
36 – 40+ containers
350 tons MTOW
160 - 200 tons payload
6,500nm/12,000km range
DL350
DL200
DL200
Twin engines + EV power
Three decks
70 – 80+ containers
600 tons MTOW
300 - 350 tons payload
6,500nm/12,000km range
Droneliner Delivers
More cargo– more quickly – lower cost – lower emissions
Bringing Droneliner to Life
Realise Design
We're grateful to the design team at Realise Design in Bristol who supported us in bringing the Droneliner design to life https://www.realisedesign.co.uk/droneliner/