Technology
Hardware, software,
the airspace itself.
The technical stack underneath every delivery flight — broken down into the three layers that actually matter.
01
Hardware
02
Software
Route planning & optimisation →
Autonomy & flight management →
Connectivity & 5G →
Operator workstations
Simulation & testing
Interactive explainers
▶ Interactive · 8 phases
How a BVLOS delivery works
Walk through the complete operational cycle of a commercial BVLOS delivery — from order receipt through UTM authorisation, C2 link management, winch delivery and return to hub.
Open interactive explainer →
▶ Interactive · 7 phases
What happens when the C2 link fails
Step through the full contingency sequence: primary link loss, backup activation, total C2 loss, hold pattern, and the return-to-home autonomous response.
Open interactive scenario →
▶ Interactive · 7 steps
How UTM deconflicts two aircraft
See how the USS detects a conflict between two independently filed flight plans and coordinates a resolution — before either aircraft has launched.
Open interactive explainer →
▶ Interactive · 3 mechanisms
Winch, drop or landing — how each works
Compare the three delivery mechanisms in commercial use today — animated side by side with delivery zone requirements, cycle times and payload compatibility.
Open interactive comparison →
Hardware · Airframe taxonomy
The four configurations in commercial delivery
Multirotor
Short range · high agility
RANGE < 10 km typical
PAYLOAD ≤ 5 kg
HOVER Excellent
USE CASE Urban last-mile
Hybrid VTOL
Medium range · versatile
RANGE 10–80 km typical
PAYLOAD 2–10 kg
HOVER Good
USE CASE Suburban & regional
Fixed-wing
Long range · efficient
RANGE 40–160 km+
PAYLOAD 1.5–15 kg
HOVER None
USE CASE Medical & critical
Cargo / heavy-lift
Long range · high payload
RANGE 100–2,500 km
PAYLOAD 50–350 kg
HOVER None (fixed-wing)
USE CASE Middle-mile freight
Range figures represent typical operational envelopes from published operator specifications and engineering literature. Individual aircraft vary.
Full airframe guide →
UTM / ATM · The airspace stack
How drones share the sky
UTM — Unmanned Traffic Management — is the invisible layer that makes commercial drone delivery possible at scale. Here is how it is structured.
Layer 01 · Operators
Flight planning & authorisation
Operators submit flight plans to a USS, receive corridor clearance, and maintain C2 link throughout the mission. In the US, LAANC provides near-real-time authorisation for controlled airspace.
Flight plans
LAANC
Corridor auth
C2 link
Remote ID
Layer 02 · USS
UAS Service Suppliers
USS platforms coordinate between operators and ANSPs, managing conflict detection, weather integration, and real-time airspace status. Multiple certified USS operate in each jurisdiction.
AirMap
Altitude Angel
Unifly
ANRA
Layer 03 · ANSP
Air Navigation Service Providers
The FAA, NATS, Eurocontrol and equivalents maintain the strategic airspace picture, handle integration with manned aviation, and set the regulatory standards that USS must meet.
FAA
NATS
Eurocontrol
CAAS
CASA
Latest technology coverage
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Latest technology coverage
All tech articles →
TECHNOLOGY
How a BVLOS drone delivery works: an interactive guide
Commercial BVLOS drone delivery involves eight distinct phases — from order receipt through route authorisation, flight, delivery, and return. This interactive explainer walks through each phase with an animated diagram of the full delivery system.
TECHNOLOGY
ANRA Technologies: the UTM software platform built around the BEYOND programme
ANRA Technologies develops UTM software for commercial drone operations, with a focus on the complex operational environments that BVLOS commercial delivery requires. The company has been an active participant in the FAA's BEYOND programme and has deployed its DroneOS platform internationally.
TECHNOLOGY
What happens when a drone loses its C2 link: an interactive scenario
C2 link loss is one of the primary contingency scenarios that commercial BVLOS drone operators must design for. This interactive walkthrough traces the full sequence: from primary link degradation through backup activation, total loss, contingency response, and resolution.