The FlyCart 30 Drone Reaches a Maximum Altitude of 6,191.8 Meters During Cargo Delivery and Trash Clearance Tests on Mount Everest in Nepal.
The FlyCart 30 drone from Chinese company DJI successfully tests cargo delivery on Mount Everest. (Video: Xinhua)
The Chinese drone company DJI has successfully conducted the first heavy-duty drone delivery test on Mount Everest in Nepal, reported Global Times on June 6. Such flights could play a crucial role in rescue operations and materials transport in high-altitude areas.
The DJI drone testing team established a transport route between Base Camp, the first stop on the journey to conquer Everest at an altitude of 5,364 meters, and Camp 1 at approximately 6,000 meters. The FlyCart 30 drone successfully completed round trips, carrying three oxygen tanks and 1.5 kg of supplies from Base Camp to Camp 1, then transporting 15 kg of trash back down to Base Camp.
During the testing, the FlyCart 30 reached a maximum altitude of 6,191.8 meters, setting a record for the highest cargo delivery by a civilian heavy-duty drone. The new trial lasted about a week, allowing experts to verify the drone’s performance in situ, its flight path, and cargo transport capabilities at high altitudes.
In recent years, the growth of mountaineering activities around the world has raised many concerns about climber safety, rescue operations, and environmental pollution. Drones can effectively assist in addressing these issues.
During the testing, the FlyCart 30 reached a maximum altitude of 6,191.8 meters.
Previously, local guides often spent around 6 to 8 hours crossing the Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest, carrying up to 15 kg of supplies each trip, according to Mingma Gyalje, a Nepali mountaineering guide. Gyalje noted that three guides from his team lost their lives there last year.
“Drones have shown me a new solution to minimize casualties,” he said.
Drones can also play a vital role in trash clearance, reducing the impact of mountaineering activities on the environment, contributing to the protection of Mount Everest and its surrounding natural environment. A Nepali drone operator launched a drone transport project on Mount Everest on May 22, following DJI’s successful tests, primarily focusing on cleaning up waste on the southern slope.
“Drones will be able to deliver equipment to Camp 1 day and night, removing waste from the camp. We will no longer have to cross the glacier at night, thereby reducing the number of fatalities,” Gyalje stated. According to Christina Zhang, the strategic director at DJI, the new trial also provided valuable flight data for high-altitude areas, laying a stronger foundation for drone use in such locations.
