One Bulgarian startup is stitching together new trade routes to remote areas
Saskia Henn speaks to one Bulgarian startup that is stitching together new trade routes to remote areas by democratising cargo delivery
Same day delivery could be coming to remote corners of the world sooner rather than later. Currently, challenges to worldwide delivery leave rural areas and islands dependent upon multi-day delivery times and clunky and expensive transportation logistics.
Despite ground transportation offering many obstacles, only 1% of cargo worldwide is transported by airfreight due to cost. Cargo planes operate between major hubs on a large scale and require additional sorting centres and distribution vans, adding time and money to the journey.
Aiming to alleviate the drain of resources on aerospace delivery, brothers Konstantin and Svilen Rangelov have come up with a quicker, cheaper solution through their startup, Dronamics. The Bulgarian company, started in 2014, aims to achieve same-day delivery to remote areas through cargo drones, transporting items such as food, mail, parcels, spare parts, pharmaceuticals and humanitarian aid.
AERODYNAMIC DESIGN
Goods travelling to remote parts of the world often take days to arrive or come at a premium. This “invisible tax” can negatively affect local economies and residents. Acting as a ‘flying delivery van’, Dronamics’ Black Swan is up to 80% quicker and 50% cheaper than traditional transportation methods, with 60% fewer emissions.
“The Black Swan is tailored for the middle-mile with an aerodynamic design, lightweight materials, and a high load-to-size ratio,” says Konstantin Rangelov, Dronamics’ co-founder and CTO.
The Black Swan is primarily made of carbon fibre, providing a resilient yet lightweight structure with a simple propulsion system and aerodynamic, fixed-wing design. It can transport 770lbs (349kg) across 1,550 miles, covering all of Europe in a single flight. The drone’s lightweight build is also supported by the fact that it is remotely operated, reaching an altitude of 20,000 feet with no onboard pilot or cockpit necessary.
Global availability was a key factor when considering fuel options for the Black Swan, which can run on gasoline, ethanol and bioethanol. Dronamics is also looking to adopt synthetic fuel and is researching hydrogen-based solutions for once the technology is more widely available.
As opposed to traditional aerospace travel that requires substantial ground-level infrastructure for take-off and landing, the Black Swan can be operated with minimal cargo loading and unloading equipment. This leads to reduced need for warehousing as goods can be shipped on demand.
“The Black Swan’s ability to land on airstrips as short as 400 metres – even unpaved – means it will often operate in low-maintenance airports, airfields, logistics hubs or factory lots,” says Rangelov. “To begin with, we are targeting existing infrastructures because it allows for quicker implementation and commencement of operations. There are around 50,000 airfields worldwide which could receive cargo with an aircraft like the Black Swan.”
In the longer term, Dronamics plans to build additional drone ports to open new routes and reach underserved communities. The planned future development of water-landing and belly-dropping capabilities of the Black Swan will help to open routes in difficult areas, such as small islands.
In fact, as Dronamics is already licenced to fly in the EU, the company’s current focus is on establishing connections between northern Greece, Athens and the nearby islands that are currently awaiting an efficient air cargo solution. Dronamics is already in the process of establishing its first drone port in the Mediterranean to support this plan.
FLYING FORWARD
“Looking ahead, we plan to expand into the Middle East, supported by partnerships with companies like Aramex, Qatar Airways Cargo and Abu Dhabi’s Strategic Development fund,” Ranglov adds. “We’re working on plans for our first manufacturing facility for mass production of the Black Swan.”
The democratisation of cargo deliveries is just beginning, with Dronamics lacing together new trade routes through its own technology and existing infrastructure. This maximisation of efficiency and increased globalisation will be something to watch in 2025 and beyond.
