NUAIR and NYNJ Port Authority conduct drone deliveries over the Hudson River
DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby
1 year from new product launch girl scout badge To encourage and educate girls in STEM careers, New York and New Jersey Port Authority To mark the partnership to deliver a box of Raspberry Rally cookies across the Hudson River, the box served as the payload for the agency’s first test of a small unmanned delivery vehicle. The box of cookies flew five miles from Greenville Yards in Jersey City, New Jersey, to the NYNJR East terminus in Brooklyn, New York, in just 15 minutes, and the drone returned in 10 minutes.
The delivery was made using a pilot autonomous cargo drone developed by Saleh Kojak, who manages the drone program for the agency’s Emergency Management Agency. Kojak coordinated this test and secured support from Aviation and Port Authority staff and approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The test flight was carried out by Northeast UAS Aerospace Integrated Research (NUAIR)is a New York-based non-profit organization dedicated to the safe integration of unmanned aerial systems into the nation’s airspace.
Operated by the Port Authority A squadron of six unmanned aerial vehiclesdeployed to plan a project, Bayonne bridge roadmake a visual inspection at the George Washington Bridge; To support public safety campaigns.and to help it Berth maintenance at the marine terminal.
The Port Authority is interested in pursuing greener solutions for middle-mile freight delivery. Vehicle crossings such as the George Washington Bridge and He NYNJR Cross Harbor Rail Car Float are the most used routes for middle-mile delivery between New York City and the continental United States. Last year, the agency’s six intersections combined handled more than 8 million eastbound truck trips, and NYNJR operated about 4,500 loaded railcars through 2022.
“Technology is moving so fast. We’re seeing cars now with features that didn’t exist 10 years ago,” said program director Seth Weiner. “But we believe there is a huge opportunity over the next five years, especially in the middle-mile drone cargo space, as it allows shippers to move goods from point to point.”
Following the demonstration’s success, the Port Authority is now recruiting private sector participants to establish an air route and complementary infrastructure across the Hudson River in the future. Request for Innovation (RFI)
read more:
Ian attended Dominican University in California and graduated with a BA in English in 2019. With her lifelong passion for writing and storytelling and keen interest in technology, she now contributes to her DroneLife as a staff writer.
Miriam McNabb, editor-in-chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of professional drone services marketplace JobForDrones, is a keen observer of the emerging drone industry and drone regulatory environment. Miriam is an international speaker and industry recognized figure, with over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and he has over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, email Miriam.
twitter:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to Drone Life here.
