BEL In Tie-Up With Drone Firm To Build Smart Drone Delivery Mailboxes

Defence and electronics PSU major, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has entered into an agreement with DRONEDEK Corporation, one of the first companies in the world to patent a smart mailbox designed for secure drone delivery to design, develop and produce DRONEDEK smart mailbox units for worldwide distribution. India has acknowledged drones and related technology as a key opportunity, and brought in enabling laws and a supporting environment for the purpose accordingly in recent months. With drones finding increasing uses across sectors including the power sector, the future seems bright. For Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the DRONEDEK tie-up is yet another feather in its cap for typing up with the private sector on revenue opportunities.

DRONEDEK holds a first-position patent portfolio for its smart mailbox for drone package receiving and storage. It is a feature-rich, secure mailbox that accepts delivery via robotic, unmanned driverless, aerial drone or conventional means. DRONEDEK is set to disrupt all shipping verticals to include receiving or sending food, medicine, groceries, or other parcels.

“DRONEDEK must work with the reliability and redundancy of a 747 airliner with 300 people on it,” said Dan O’Toole, DRONEDEK CEO and Founder. “This new collaboration between Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and DRONEDEK gives us the edge and credibility we have been looking for in the marketplace.”

“We are always raising the bar on our technical offerings, and we want to continue to be a company of firsts,” said Mrs Anandi Ramalingam, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). “The DRONEDEK opportunity presents Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) a new vertical in the changing landscape of worldwide, last-mile logistics, one in which we will be able to put a stake in the ground and build on.”

Designed to accept drone delivery, the DRONEDEK mailbox also accepts traditional mail delivery, and is destined to become an everyday utility service like power or water. The device is capable of keeping packages hot or cold; will alert users to package arrival; recharge drones; and even serve as an emergency alert if necessary. An app controls when the device is opened for delivery or retrieval and also controls its emergency alarm features.