Grab debuts drone pilot with up to 28 food deliveries a day at Tanjong Rhu

Grab has debuted a three-month-long beta drone delivery program in partnership with ST Engineering's Unmanned Air Systems business to be tested in Tanjong Rhu.

On Jan. 6, an Inside Grab article detailed the launch and explained that it "aims to explore how autonomous tech can work hand-in-hand with our delivery-partner network to improve overall efficiency".

Meant to facilitate internal testing, the drone's pre-planned flight path crosses the Kallang River which "separates homes from the main cluster of eateries".

The drone deliveries reduce the effort needed for tricky terrain like the river crossing, increasing efficiency by cutting down travel time.

Up to 28 deliveries a day

The drone service will run every Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 6pm, with up to 28 deliveries each day.

Grab also says navigation cameras will not store any footage.

A round trip has an average flight time of eight minutes, and operations will pause during wet weather conditions and public holidays.

In the post, Grab assured that food delivery riders and other delivery partners remain central to the experience, as a human touch is still needed to bring the order to the designated drone launchpad and from the landing hub to consumers.

"While drones handle the tricky river crossing, delivery-partners provide the human touch that drones can’t: checking orders, managing handoffs to drone operators, and making sure every meal reaches the right doorstep safely."

Grab added that over 20 delivery-partners had been trained to manage the drone handoffs safely and efficiently.

The drone pilot programme has been designed with privacy and noise concerns in mind, especially since it would be operating in residential neighbourhoods.

Top photo from Inside Grab and Derek Q/Google Maps.