The load capacity of the drones is currently two kilograms. The supplier is the US start-up Matternet. The drones’ maximum range is 20 kilometres. The Sprinter carries replacement batteries so that the drone can fly to a more distant destination or back to the stationary warehouse if necessary. The drone is guided to its destination by a superordinate control system, flies automatically and independently on preprogrammed routes, and orients itself via GPS signals.
The landing platform mounted on the Sprinter sends an infrared signal to the drone to enable it to land automatically with centimetre precision. The electric-drive Sprinter will be used in a further expansion stage of the system.The Matternet drones have already been used commercially for more than a year without any incidents. For example, a laboratory in Zurich is using them to transport blood samples, which are packed in special boxes, between the laboratory and a hospital.
The future-oriented adVANce initiative of Mercedes-Benz Vans focuses on three areas of innovation: connectivity and IoT applications that are used to integrate various technologies into the vans (digital@vans), the development of innovative hardware solutions for the transportation sector (solutions@vans), and new mobility concepts for the transportation of people and goods (mobility@vans).
The focus of digital@vans is on connecting vans by means of cutting-edge technologies, whereas solutions@vans develops innovations such as automated cargo systems for vans. Meanwhile, mobility@vans aims to develop intelligent mobility concepts for transporting people and goods. Among other things, it combines various technologies in order to optimise transportation during the last mile.