DJI Has Completed the World’s First Drone Delivery Tests on Mount Everest
In April of this year, DJI teamed up with Nepalese drone service company Airlift, video production company 8KRAW, and Nepalese-certified mountain guide Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, to fly the world's first successful delivery drone trials on Mount Everest.
The DJI FlyCart 30 was put to the ultimate test, delivering oxygen bottles and 1.5kg of other supplies in extreme altitudes, temperatures and other environmental conditions.
Safer Expeditions
Traditionally, local Sherpa guides transported supplies and cleared the mountain of rubbish. They spend roughly 6-8 hours walking through the icefall daily, and three Sherpas were lost last year.
If this responsibility could be passed on to drone tech, it would be hugely beneficial to the safety of Sherpas and climbers on their expeditions.
Each climber is estimated to have left 8kg of trash behind on Everest and, despite cleanup efforts, tonnes of that trash remains there.
Striving for More Effective Rescue Missions and a Cleaner Everest
"From the end of April, our team embarked on a groundbreaking endeavour to help make cleanup efforts on Everest safer and more efficient," said Christina Zhang, Senior Corporate Strategy Director at DJI. "We are thrilled to share that our DJI FlyCart 30 was up to the task. The ability to safely transport equipment, supplies, and waste by drone has the potential to revolutionise Everest mountaineering logistics, facilitate trash cleanup efforts, and improve safety for all involved."
The Use Of Drones In Future Expeditions
The use of drones in high-altitude and challenging environmental areas boosts safety and efficiency while also promoting conservation and sustainable practices in mountaineering.
Since its launch in January 2024, the DJI FlyCart 30 offers practical transport solutions for unique needs. It's been used for planting saplings on hard-to-reach hillsides, transforming solar PV installations in Mexico, aiding mountain fire rescues in Norway, enhancing scientific research in Antarctica and much more.
Overall, using drones for mountain cleanup efforts and rescues brings numerous benefits to adventurers and local communities, with very few downsides. The goal of ensuring both adventurers' safety and environmental protection is becoming a reality thanks to DJI's technological advancements.
