On Monday evening the IW Council arranged a special presentation by Inteliports, pioneers in drone freight deliveries, as part of a consultation on a potential trial project.

The company is exploring the possibility of entering into a six-month trial with the Isle of Wight Council, funded by an award from the Transport Research and Innovation Grant scheme. The trial would see payloads hauled five times a day between two hubs, one positioned near the seashore in Calshot, with the Island hub based in a shipping container on a piece of land next to Mornington Road car park in Cowes.

The purpose of the trial, apart from testing the robustness of the remote piloted services and its associated technology, is to see to what extent commercial applications might use low or zero-carbon vehicles for ongoing pick-up and delivery to sites on the Island. Although it is described as ‘heavy-lift’, drone payloads will weigh no more than 22 kilos (48lbs). Another potential use is to transfer medical equipment and supplies.

The basic concept follows work carried out over several years of decarbonising freight deliveries into cities, concentrating on what is known as the ‘final mile’ solution. The use of drones flying at about 400ft being an element of the logistics path is innovative and new.

Questions were raised with the promoters on a wide variety of subjects. Noise was one worry and it was suggested an environmental impact assessment was needed on the hub site before the Cowes location was confirmed because of the potential impact on wildlife, including red squirrels. The ability of drones to fly in challenging weather conditions was also discussed. The possibility of job losses in traditional transport solutions was also raised by Cllr Richard Quigley.

This innovative drone freight trial, would not at any early stage, aim to replace any of the main freight delivery services going to and from the Island, nevertheless, it focuses attention on innovation in all areas of technology and the part it could play in the longer-term greening of transport systems.

Cllr John Nicholson likened the drone trial to the invention of the telephone. Although people were impressed, they didn’t think it would ‘catch on’.

Further consultation would take place before plans progress, which would include public meetings.