Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Launches Heavy Logistics Drone

Updated: Apr 24, 2023, 12:30 IST

On 20th April, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the first-of-its-kind heavy logistics drone at the Odisha Skill Enclave 2023. The drone is built by a startup based in Odisha, BonV Aero. The heavy logistics drone can transport 50 kg of goods over 10 km. The CM also took a trial of the logistics drone.

The Odisha-based startup BonV Aero specializes in building Electric Aerial Vehicles for cargo transport. IIT Mandi, NITI Aayog, and the AICCV Raman Global University Odisha back up this startup.

Satyabrata Satyapathy, the CEO and co-founder of BonV Aero, informed that their startup has successfully conducted a trial run of their Electric Aerial Vehicle named RM001 that carried 50kg cargo over an altitude of 8,000 to 10,000 feet in Tawang of Eastern Command of the Indian Army, in Arunachal Pradesh. The next trial will be done at a high altitude of 14,000 to 16,000 feet.

He added that in the next phase, the startup would develop another heavy logistics drone that could carry 200km worth of cargo over 40km.

Satyapathy further said that multi-utility air vehicles are reliable in disaster response, where surface logistics are time-consuming or unfavorable. He also mentioned that Odisha is a highly disaster-prone state as cyclones and floods are regular here. The use of the multi-air vehicle can be beneficial in such a situation. It’s also cheaper and will help improve logistics solutions, especially in remote and hilly regions.