The gigantic wholesale fresh food market serving the Paris region has gotten a taste of its tech future, thanks to a series of drone flights testing the viability of last-mile produce deliveries around the massive facility.

Situated about 15 km from central Paris, and neighboring Orly airport, the Marché International de Rungis played home to 50 trial drone delivery flights of vendor goods to far-flung parts of the compound – a preview of what organizers believe will become a regular transport option to ground vehicles. The operation was overseen by French startup DragonflyPads, which produces and provides modular, mobile vertipad alternatives to large, fixed-structure vertiports. The proof of concept effort aimed to prove the viability of fast, safe last-mile UAV deliveries of a range of perishable produce, as well as urgently needed goods.

Given France’s singular relationship and cultural association with food –  as well as the wholesale market’s…

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Source: dronedj.com