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Cargo Drone Logistics

Drones are transforming logistics by cutting delivery costs for small-volume shipments.
They can reach places roads never will - from remote mines to ships, offshore platforms, and small islands.

What we can offer

Some Autlo team members are avid drone enthusiasts. Having tested drones across different sizes and environments, we believe the technology is now ready to deliver real value. It's time to move: from play to work.

Autlo can help with feasibility and cost analysis. If drones can handle the task at an acceptable cost level, we will help select the right platforms, handle sourcing, flying, and servicing.

We also offer managed cargo drone logistics as a full service — from initial tests through to ongoing operations. You don't need to buy your own drone fleet, register as an operator, or hire pilots: we just deliver your cargo.

Some usecases we have in mind

We focus on high-value, time-critical cargo under 120 kg — the shipments where speed and precision matter most. 

A drone can fly straight to the destination regardless of terrain, making it especially valuable where roads are absent or indirect: at sea, in the mountains, at mining sites, or across open wilderness. Work that once depended on a helicopter, or a long detour where no direct road exists, now has a better option.

Drones also handle time-critical deliveries in weather too risky for a helicopter. If a drone goes down, it's a loss of cargo — not a loss of life. That means we can push through conditions a crewed flight never would.

Ship or small island delivery

Ship or small island delivery

Sometimes you urgently need to ship something urgent: medicine, documents, replacement electronics, navigation equipment, crew essentials, or even food.

Autlo manages the whole stack, including flight planning, airspace clearance, and cargo handoff, in line with EASA standards.

Seashore wind or drilling

Offshore platforms today are typically serviced by boat and helicopter — which works well for large, scheduled shipments in calm weather conditions. 

But imagine a critical part fails and operations grind to a halt, with the next scheduled flight ten days out. 

Cargo drones can deliver faster than the regular schedule, cheaper than a helicopter, and in weather where flying a helicopter means putting human lives at risk.

Remote mining and industrial

Remote mining and industrial

Remote factories, construction yards, and mining operations lose hours or days to road logistics, poor infrastructure. We connect warehouse hubs directly to the site with spare parts, tools, high-value components, and medical supplies for on-site personnel.

Flight analytics, telemetry logs, and cargo manifests are written straight into your ERP or inventory system.

Mountain delivery

Mountains have always been magical. People go there to hike, ski, fly, raft, bike, and take on countless other adventures.

But it's a rough environment where things can turn critical fast. Accidents happen. Gear breaks or gets lost. Weather shifts without warning, and a trip can take far longer than planned.

We're ready to help — delivering supplies, parts, food, batteries, medicine, or whatever you need, right when you need it.

Payload classes and specifications

Three core payload classes cover most routes. Anything outside them, we can build to specification.

15kg | Light Express

Time-critical cargo at high speed, with strong wind resistance and rapid battery turnaround.

Maritime: 5-15km from the shore terminal, serving vessels at anchor and replacing expensive fast-launch crew boat runs for small priority cargo.

Onshore: line-of-sight and BVLOS supply links to remote construction sites, mining camps, and offshore wind platforms.

Typical cargo: medical supplies · laboratory samples · replacement electronics · emergency spare parts · priority documents

60kg | Medium Industrial

Weatherised carbon-fibre airframe with multi-rotor motor redundancy and obstacle-avoidance sensors, built for prolonged flight over open water and rough maritime corridors.

Maritime: 15-30km, covering larger vessels at anchor and bulk priority provisioning runs.

Onshore: construction yard logistics, mining site supply chains, and just-in-time parts delivery. 

Typical cargo: ship provisioning at anchor · machinery tools · high-value courier packages · remote outpost resupply · offshore platform supply

120kg | Heavy Logistics Lift

High-torque propulsion and a scalable payload bay, engineered to hold stable flight profiles over water and mountainous terrain.

Maritime: extended-range BVLOS under the appropriate EASA authorisation for terminal-to-deck delivery, replacing helicopter charters for heavy priority cargo at a significantly lower cost per kilogram.

Onshore: remote mine supply chains, energy infrastructure, and disaster response. Requires a feasibility assessment before deployment.

Typical cargo: terminal-to-deck freight · disaster supply drops · remote community resupply · mining and heavy industry · offshore energy logistics

Custom | Beyond the standard classes

Payload or distance requirements that do not fit the three standard classes, including specialised cargo bays and long-range variants above 120kg.

Engineering: we specify the airframe, the route profile, and the cargo handling procedure around your operational reality.

Regulatory: non-standard configurations are assessed case by case, and we map the authorisation path before committing to a build.

Typical cases: oversized components · temperature-controlled cargo · non-standard mounting · extended-range corridors

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From the warehouse floor to the ship's deck

One managed operation covers both: the same flight planning, the same control centre, the same integration into your systems.

How a deployment works


Moving to drone logistics does not require buying aircraft or hiring pilots. Autlo can manage the full operational stack (but you can select also a partial deployment).

1. Feasibility and route assessment

We analyse your cargo specifications, route distance, local terrain, wind profiles, and power budgets, and map the optimal flight paths before any drone takes off.

2. Payload class and aircraft selection

With the route mapped, we match it to a payload class and airframe, weighing capacity against range, endurance, and weather envelope. If you are procuring your own aircraft, this is where we specify it.

3. Regulatory compliance and authorisation

Autlo handles the regulatory overhead: securing the necessary EASA operational approvals, setting geofencing boundaries, and obtaining BVLOS waivers for maritime or long-range flights.

4. Ground infrastructure and landing zones

We prepare the take-off and landing points at both ends of the route, including deck handoff procedure, ground crew briefing, and any charging or battery-swap infrastructure the route needs.

5. Fleet integration and software setup

We deploy the Autlo software layer to link flight operations with your existing infrastructure, so flight analytics, automated cargo manifests, and telemetry data reach your warehouse management system or ERP.

6. Ongoing operations and monitoring

Our control centre monitors every flight, tracking battery health, motor wear, and live telemetry. Autlo handles scheduling, dispatching, and preventative maintenance, and manages component swaps before they disrupt deliveries.

Common questions

Is commercial drone cargo delivery legal in Europe?

Yes. Under the EASA regulatory framework, commercial cargo drone operations are legal and permitted across EU member states. Operations are categorised by risk; standard cargo missions generally fall under the Specific category, which requires an operational authorisation. BVLOS operations over water, common in maritime transport, require additional waivers. Autlo manages the regulatory authorisations, flight approvals, and geofencing configuration as part of the service, so the client does not need to handle this independently.

What is Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) and how does it work?

Drone-as-a-Service lets clients secure heavy-payload drone logistics capacity without the capital expense of purchasing or operating aircraft. Autlo provides the drones, certified pilots, software platform, regulatory compliance, and ongoing maintenance. The client specifies the cargo weight, flight path, and delivery schedule. If you would rather own the aircraft, we can procure and configure it for you and still run the operation around it.

How much weight can a commercial cargo drone carry?

Autlo works with three standard payload tiers: a 15kg Light Express drone, a 60kg Medium Industrial drone, and a 120kg Heavy Logistics drone. Payload capacity directly affects flight range and endurance, and the appropriate tier depends on your cargo type, route distance, and environment. Custom configurations beyond 120kg are available on request.

What is ship-to-shore drone delivery?

Ship-to-shore drone delivery uses heavy-lift drones to transport priority cargo from a port terminal or shore facility directly to a vessel at anchor. It replaces launch boats and helicopter charters for high-priority items. By bypassing harbour traffic and operating in conditions where crew boats are restricted, it offers substantial time savings, lower cost, and improved operational safety.

What kinds of cargo can a drone deliver to a ship?

Medical supplies, replacement electronics, navigation gear, priority documents, crew essentials, small machinery parts, and urgent provisions. Autlo specialises in high-value, time-critical cargo under the 120kg limit, for shipments where delivery speed and precision matter more than bulk volume.

What payload capacity do you need?

Payload capacity drives flight range, endurance, and the regulatory path. Pick the closest match, or tell us you are not sure.

15kg | Light Express

Time-critical cargo, 5-15km maritime range. Medical supplies, samples, urgent parts and documents.

60kg | Medium Industrial

B2B logistics, 15-30km maritime range. Ship provisioning, machinery tools, remote site resupply.

120kg | Heavy Logistics Lift

Utility-scale terminal-to-deck transport. Requires a feasibility assessment before deployment.

Custom configuration

Beyond 120kg, or a specialised cargo bay. Our engineering team will design around it.

Not sure yet

Describe the cargo and we will work out the right class with you.

Prefer to just send us a message?

Tell us about your cargo, your route, and your operational constraints. Our team will get back to you within 48 hours.

Book a Demo