Product Summary and Analysis Draft 1

According to the website “https://mttr.net/company” (n.d.), Matternet is an autonomous drone technology firm that aims to improve the transportation of goods so that it could be as accessible as information. The company has also worked together with cities such as North Carolina to transport blood and tissue samples.

The drone used, the Matternet compact M2 quadcopter, has some unique features. First the drone is both an autonomous and controlled drone. These drones are connected to the “Matternet Cloud” that allows them to fly autonomously. In the case of emergency, the drones can be controlled using an app. These drones also come with safety feature such as self-deploying parachutes.

Secondly the drone has its own pad, the “Matternet Station” that allows automated loading of package and battery change. The drones would be able to pick up packages of up to 2 kilograms and fly as far as 20 kilometres on a single charge. Although other companies provide similar service such as the Zipline drone, there are several points that make it stand out from the competitors.

One unique feature of the Matternet M2 quadcopter is its “Matternet Station”. This pad allows the drone to pick up delivery and change its battery without human interaction. The station can be installed on the ground or rooftop while taking as little as two square meters of space. In contrast, a similar company to Matternet, Zipline, has a similar product Zip 2 that requires a catapult to launch for flight. At the same time, with the help of the station, the Matternet M2 drone can make precision landings. From the user point, one would only need to scan a QR code to use the Matternet M2 Drone to transport their package from one point to another. The location of where the drones could land is limited to the location of the Matternet Station. As compared to the Zip 2, the user would receive a message before the drone drops their package safely which require a space of a couple of parking spaces. With this amount of space, it would be an issue if the package is needed in the city, where space is tight.

Another unique feature of the Matternet M2 quadcopter is its cloud software, the Matternet Cloud. Using this system, the drones can communicate with other Matternet drones and the Matternet platform. The drones are also able to communicate with operators while in flight. This is much more reliable as compared to the Zip 2 that relies GPS signals and drone to drone communication. At the same, the Zip 2 flight plans are store in SIM cards onboard the drone which would not allow operators to interact with the drones in flight.

The unique features offered by the Matternet compact M2 Quadcopter helps reduce human interaction, saves delivery time and cost. Hence, integrating the drone with the Matternet Station and the Matternet Cloud would allow for a more seamless aerial delivery.

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Adams, E. (2019) UPS Drones Are Now Moving Blood Samples Over North Carolina. Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/ups-matternet-drone-delivery-north-carolina/ [Accessed 22 Sep. 2019]

Matternet(n.d.). Available at: https://mttr.net/product [Accessed 26 Sep 2019]

Post. (2017). In action of public health: Matternet M2. Availble at: https://www.post.ch › ueber-uns › drohnen › spezifikationen-matternet-m2  [Accessed 26 Sep. 2019]

Matternet(n.d.). Available at: https://mttr.net/company [Accessed 27 Sep 2019]

Matternet (2017). Matternet Unveils the Matternet Station.
Available at: https://mttr.net/images/Matternet_Press_Release_09.20.2017.pdf [Accessed 2 Oct. 2019]

Anthony, L. (2018) How Zipline Helps Remote Regions Get Blood From a Drone.
Available at: https://www.wired.com/story/wired25-anne-wojcicki-keller-rinaudo-zipline-medical-drones/#targetText=The%20Zip%201%20had%20a,can%20still%20fly%20it%20home.&targetText=Zipline%20doesn't%20so%20much,string%20them%20up%20like%20pheasants. [Accessed 2 Oct. 2019]

Hivemq. (n.d). Available at: https://www.hivemq.com/case-studies/matternet/ [Accessed 2 Oct. 2019]