UK-funded Jersey drone trial has gone 'excellently'

Thursday, 20 June 2024 12:30

Drone used in the trial, credit: Ports of Jersey

A £4 million drone trial in Jersey is coming to a close.

By the end of this week, the UK-funded project testing the safety of drones will finish.

The island was chosen as testbed for the project, run by Ports of Jersey and the Agile Integrated Airspace System Programme (ALIAS).

It was testing whether drones could work in the island and be used in delivering vital medical supplies between the Channel Islands, France and the UK.

It's Project Lead Anthony Lawrenson said the trial was a success and could also help the island hit its climate targets:

"I've got to say it's been excellent. We hit out our major project milestones.

"This means we can start using these drones to provide a sustainable transport network system in and around the region.

"You're not necessarily reliant on burning fossil fuels."

Mobile drone control room, credit: Ports of Jersey

Anthony Lawrenson tells us his hopes for the use of drones in the island:

"The list becomes endless when thinking about the applications this could have, especially in an area like the Channel Islands which has obvious issues of connectivity.

"The use cases we've been focusing on are things like search and rescue, medical delivery, critical component delivery between the islands and the mainland, agricultural survey, fisheries patrol - you name it.

"Anything you could apply an airborne platform to, these uncrewed aircrafts can be adapted to fulfil that, and for a fraction of the cost."

Mobile drone control room, credit: Ports of Jersey