Terra Drone Europe partners with Unilever to deliver ice cream in New York City

We have covered Terra Drone multiple times at TechStartups. The Japan-based startup provides innovative enterprise drone services for oil and gas, utilities, renewables, mining, construction, and GIS sectors, among others. Today, a subsidiary of Japan-based Terra Drone Corporation, is collaborating with British-Dutch transnational consumer goods giant Unilever to test drone delivery services for the latter’s popular ‘Ben & Jerry’s’ ice cream brand

The two companies have joined forces to explore drone-delivery of ice creams in New York. In a program undertaken at Unilever’s recent annual investor event, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream cups were delivered to a pre-decided destination by drone. The demo was conducted as part of Unilever’s ice cream delivery service, ‘Ice Cream Now’.

During the demonstration, a multi-copter drone was fitted with delivery box (Figure 1) designed to carry three Ben & Jerry’s mini cups (72 g each). A flight path was set beforehand to allow the drone to carry the ice cream cups inside the Unilever’s US facility.

Shipping box containing Ben & Jerry’s mini cups

Unilever launched Ice Cream Now, a delivery service for ice creams, in 2017. This service has already grown into a huge business worldwide. With regulations around future drone flights expected to become more flexible, the consumer goods company is preparing for a drone logistics service that will deliver products to more customers faster.

Commenting on the pilot project, Yuki Ueno, Director of Terra Drone Europe, said, “We want to solve serious problems in the logistics field, such as carbon dioxide emissions, with drones. As deregulation progresses worldwide, drone delivery services will also increase.” Terra Drone and Unilever will continue to cooperate in the field of logistics services.