In collaboration with drone manufacturer Matternet, Mercedes-Benz is developing a new van with several drones inside that can deliver packages. The entirely electric van has been dubbed the Vision Van.
Gain time
The van contains an entirely automated package system that tells the drive when to stop. A drone will then fly off the roof and deliver the package, Dutch website Twinkle writes.
This will help gain time, because the driver no longer has to exit the vehicle and drones with a limited range can be used as well. It also works the other way around: the drones can pick up packages and deliver them to the Vision Van after the driver has left, making same-day delivery even more viable.
The Vision Van’s has a 270 km action radius, although it is still not clear when the van will actually be available.
Over the next 5 years, Mercedes-Benz will invest up to 500 million euro in digitization, automation and robotics and the Vision Van is one of the first projects out of that investment.
