Above the northeastern part of India, nestled in the Himalayas, lies Bhutan, a landlocked country where steep mountains and limited road connectivity make the delivery of essential goods, such as food and medicine, a challenge. In such terrain, reaching remote monasteries and villages often means long hours of trekking or relying on scarce transport facilities.
To overcome these challenges recently, EndureAir Systems Private Limited, in collaboration with Druk Holding & Investments Limited (DHI) of Bhutan, conducted a proof-of-concept named Pilot Project for Development of Drone Logistics Business Environment in Bhutan. The POC involved flights from Sangaygang to Phajoding, starting with a 1 kg payload and culminating in the successful delivery of a 10 kg bag of rice. To showcase the concept, EndureAir deployed its fully developed UAV SABAL, designed to carry payloads of up to 20 kg. The UAV comes with a variable-speed electric propulsion system that allows precise control of rotor blades, improving efficiency, payload capacity, and stability in high-altitude or windy conditions. During the demonstration, the UAV was operated remotely by a pilot; the drone completed the round trip in barely ten minutes, successfully delivering a bag of rice to the monastery and returning just as swiftly. The delivery was received by the monastery’s lama at Phajoding with a customary prayer ceremony.
On behalf of EndureAir Systems, Mohit Nagpal from the Founder’s Office was present at the demonstration. Chimi Demma from DHI was also there. She added, “The company is exploring other areas to use drones for logistics, including construction materials and conducting power line inspections.”
The project aligns with the efforts of the Government of Bhutan to use advanced technology for resolving transportation difficulties. The application of drones is not limited to defence now; instead, it can be seen in other areas, including fighting fires, delivering medical supplies, or conducting seasonal inventories for soldiers. Following the demo’s success, the government plans to set up a delivery drone system in Bhutan to boost services and drive tech adoption.
