German Firm Testing Drones for Delivering Goods

Germany’s express delivery and mail company Deutsche Post DHL is testing a drone that could be used to deliver urgently needed goods to hard-to-reach places.

The small pilotless helicopter flew a package of medicine Monday from a pharmacy in the town of Bonn to the company’s headquarters on the other side of the Rhine River. The aircraft can carry up to 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds).

Company spokesman Thomas Kutsch said that the flights, which have been taking place throughout this week, are strictly a research project to see if the technology works, and that there are no plans yet to start actual drone deliveries. The test flights required permission from local aviation authorities.

Online retailer Amazon is also working on a drone to deliver goods to customers, despite legal obstacles in the U.S.