By: Ori Marom, Founder, Segmentis B.V.
Recent developments in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) have brought to market heavier drones that could be used soon also in ports. This article briefly describes the technology and discusses its potential use cases in the Maritime sector.
I. Background
Most drones in commercial use today are lightweight machines. Typically, these are sensor-carrying drones with a maximal take-off mass (MTOM) of no more than 25kg.
There are good reasons for the apparent restriction of drones’ weight. Indeed, the use of heavier drones over densely populated areas is still widely considered unsafe and thus unacceptable to both regulators and the general public. Other considerations such as noise, pollution, and the scarcity of adequate landing areas also come into play in limiting the weight of drones.
Nevertheless, as drone technology and legislative frameworks evolve heavier drones are quickly becoming a reality. European cities such as Paris and Rome are working towards the deployment of heavy drones such as air-taxis by 2030.
II. Heavy-drone categories
There are basically three categories of heavy drones that are readily available on the market. The first category is utility-drones. These machines are designed for carrying out specialized tasks including surveying large areas such as forests, extinguishing fires on high-rise buildings, or spraying crops. For example, the DJI Agras drone can carry up to 50kg of chemicals in each crop-spraying mission.
The second heavy-drone category is cargo drones. The largest cargo drones currently on the market can deliver packages of up to 60kg in a single mission. Cargo drones do not always need to land to deliver their payloads. Most often they use a winch-and-cable system to minimize landing-platform footprint and enhance ground-safety. For example, the Griff 60 drone can reportedly carry up to 60 kg of payloads, and in its upcoming hybrid-electric version could stay airborne for up to 12 hours. Such drones would be ideal for deliveries to remote destinations like oil-and-gas platforms.
The third, and perhaps most exciting heavy drone category is passenger-drones, commonly known as air-taxis. The race to realize them is certainly on and involves aviation giants such as Airbus, Boeing and Embraer as well as various smaller newcomers. The first, and so far only, passenger-drone to be granted certification (in China) is the EHang 216S. This machine is fully autonomous and can carry two passengers over 30km.
III. The Main Use Cases for Heavy Drones in Ports
With the advancement of heavy drones—those capable of carrying significant payloads and performing demanding tasks—ports stand to benefit greatly from these versatile machines. Heavy drones offer unique capabilities that can enhance port efficiency, safety, and environmental monitoring. Here are four primary use cases for heavy drones in port operations:
1. Cargo Transport and Delivery
Heavy cargo drones can revolutionize the movement of goods within and around ports. These drones are ideal for carrying urgent, high-priority items like spare parts, equipment, or documents between warehouses, vessels, and terminals. By utilizing drones for these deliveries, ports can reduce reliance on ground vehicles, which are often slowed by congestion and logistical bottlenecks. For offshore or anchored ships, heavy cargo drones equipped with winch-and-cable systems allow for safe, mid-air delivery of payloads, minimizing the need for landing and expediting operations. An example of such use cases is the delivery of oil-samples from tankers to shore-based labs.
2. Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance
Ports are complex environments with vast infrastructure that requires regular inspection and maintenance, including cranes, pipelines, storage tanks, and berths. Heavy drones equipped with advanced sensors such as LiDAR, thermal cameras, and high-resolution imaging can inspect these assets efficiently, providing detailed data on structural integrity. Drones reduce the need for human inspectors to perform high-risk tasks at great heights or over water, improving safety and reducing downtime. With heavy drones capable of carrying sophisticated equipment, ports can ensure that their infrastructure remains in optimal condition, preventing costly breakdowns and enhancing overall safety.
3. Emergency Response and Hazard Management
In emergency situations, such as fires, chemical spills, or accidents, heavy drones can serve as critical tools for rapid response. Equipped with thermal cameras, gas sensors, or firefighting equipment, drones can assess hazardous conditions without endangering human responders. For example, drones can quickly locate hot spots in fires or identify the source of a chemical leak, allowing responders to act more effectively. In case of hazardous spills, drones can be dispatched to carry containment materials or environmental sensors, limiting human exposure to dangerous substances. This capability makes heavy drones invaluable for managing emergencies and minimizing damage.
4. Transportation of Critical Personnel
Aerial transport by drone of critical personnel such as firefighters, medics, and pilots can enhance both safety and efficiency by avoiding traffic-congestion or slower water-borne transport methods when approaching vessels at sea. An air-taxi is more cost-efficient than an helicopter and arguably can often land more safely on ships due to multi-rotor propulsion and autonomous-landing systems; resulting in greater stability and landing accuracy given the complexity of aircraft synchronisation with all six dimensions of vessel movement: heave, sway, surge, roll, pitch and yaw.
As a closing remark, heavy drones are set to play a transformative role in port operations, enhancing efficiency, safety, and environmental stewardship.As regulations evolve and drone technology advances, ports can expect to see greater integration of these powerful machines. By strategically deploying heavy drones, ports can streamline operations, reduce risks, and make strides toward a more sustainable future.
