According to the express transportation company, the trials validated a mid-mile drone logistics link between Electronic City Phase II and a site near Bangalore International Airport Limited.
Conducted under the FedEx SMART Center at IIT Madras, the project tested high-speed drone operations in urban airspace. It also assessed their ability to improve network efficiency and reduce reliance on road transport.
Analysis by the FedEx SMART Center showed that a 53 km road route, which takes over 60 minutes, can be replaced by an aerial route of about 39–42 km. During the trials, this reduced one-way transit time to around 21 minutes.
Nitin Navneet Tatiwala, vice president of marketing, customer experience, and air network (MEISA), FedEx, said, “This milestone reflects the FedEx SMART Center’s broader research agenda across air cargo optimization, electric vehicle integration, and advanced demand forecasting.”
The drones navigated Airport Yellow and Red Zones with approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The initiative is part of FedEx’s global efforts to develop safe and scalable logistics solutions.
Prof. Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, core faculty member at the FedEx SMART Centre, IIT Madras, said, “By integrating advanced aerial robotics into urban logistics, we are moving beyond theoretical research to prove the efficacy of high-impact, future-ready solutions that can redefine the global logistics landscape.”
Prof. Arshinder Kaur, professor in-charge at the FedEx SMART Centre, added, “The high-speed drone-delivery trials are a strong demonstration of the centre’s commitment to driving innovation across modern supply chains and accelerating cutting-edge technologies.”
FedEx provides transportation, e-commerce, and business services globally, with a focus on technology and partnerships. IIT Madras, established in 1959 as an Institute of National Importance, operates 18 academic departments and multiple interdisciplinary research centres.
First Published: Apr 21, 2026 1:31 PM ist
