ANTWERP, 13/06/2024 - ADLC, A Drone Logistics Company, demonstrated its SAMPLIFLY drone transport service supported by BELSPO & ESA via ARTES/Business Application program. The company collaborates with SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection & certification company, for this initiative. BASF Antwerpen NV, constantly striving to improve its production and service processes, facilitated this sustainable innovation feat. This marks an international first: the transport of petrochemical analysis samples by an autonomously flying drone has never before been executed in Europe.
Receiving technical and financial support from BELSPO and ESA has been crucial for ADLC, A Drone Logistics Company, in demonstrating its innovative SAMPLIFLY drone transport service. This support, part of the ARTES/Business Application program, allowed ADLC to utilize advanced space technologies like GNSS for precise drone positioning. BELSPO and ESA's involvement ensured the project's technical feasibility and financial viability, facilitating rapid development and deployment. Their support provided access to cutting-edge technology, expert guidance, and essential funding, driving sustainable innovation in the logistics industry. This collaboration highlights the vital role of space agencies in fostering commercial ventures that enhance operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact, demonstrating their commitment to advancing practical, real-world applications of space technologies.
Annually, SGS analyzes approximately 6,000 (petro)chemical analysis samples for BASF Antwerpen and more than 60,000 samples for other companies in the Port of Antwerp. SGS, drone operator ADLC, and BASF Antwerpen collaborated on the SAMPLIFLY project to safely and efficiently transport these samples using a BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line Of Sight) computer-controlled autonomous drone. The drone is designed to fly greater distances (up to 50 km) carrying a payload of 15 kg. Thanks to this drone logistics, SGS can reduce the transport time of analysis samples by up to six times. This not only increases the efficiency of operations for both BASF Antwerpen and SGS but also reduces the environmental impact for both parties. Traditionally, the transport of analysis samples is carried out by road. The use of drones offers a sustainable solution by reducing CO2 emissions by up to 80%.
Advanced Technology
In collaboration with SGS, ADLC has created a software platform for requesting transport, planning the flight, remotely starting the drone, and real-time tracking of the flight path. Once a flight is requested via the online order portal by an SGS operator, the drone navigates automatically from the starting location to the destination using onboard computers and navigation systems. The pilot monitors the flight remotely through a control system, allowing for immediate intervention to ensure safety is maintained.
Strict Safety Standards
Safety is paramount for SGS, ADLC, and BASF Antwerpen. The implementation of SAMPLIFLY is a first for the European port industry, partly due to the very strict safety requirements that drone transport of petrochemical samples must meet. Logistic drone flights for petrochemical products in an industrial environment are subject to the strictest (inter)national aviation regulations. ADLC is the first company in Europe approved for transporting such analysis samples by drone and the first company worldwide to do so within a port in a non-segregated controlled airspace.
The project was realized thanks to the financial support of partners: SGS, BELSPO, Stad Antwerpen, European Space Agency, as well as logistical support and assistance from BASF Antwerpen, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, EuroUSC, Skeydrone, Orange and Unifly.
QUOTES
“We are delighted with the success of SAMPLIFLY’S first flight this week. This technology has the potential to transform the way ports manage such shipments, offering a swift and cost-effective solution which can greatly reduce the environmental impact of port logistics.” – Arnaud Runge, Lead technical officer, ESA
"Sustainability and innovation are embedded in our culture and the way we do business at SGS. This Samplifly project is a perfect example of that. We are extremely pleased to have reached this historic milestone and European first today. After more than two years of development and pioneering work, we are now ready to go. In the coming months, this sustainable and cutting-edge drone transport will be fully digitally integrated into our customer services. Our ambition is to scale this up to interested companies in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges (POAB) and beyond (other international ports)."- Kristof Van Hoecke, Regional Digital, Technology & Innovation Manager, SGS
"As ADLC, we are delighted to have SGS as our partner. As a young, innovative startup, it is always a challenge to find a partner/customer with the same entrepreneurial mindset. Thanks to the intense collaboration within the Samplifly project, we have achieved a series of 'firsts'. We are already experiencing international resonance, especially in the maritime and industrial sectors, where rapid deliveries are not only 'nice-to-have' but can significantly contribute to operational efficiency and sustainability goals." - Marc Kegelaers, Co-founder and Chairman ADLC
