The Manna Aero MNA-1090 drone delivering a parcel of food during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. Manna.aero is preparing to run a couple of hundred drone test flights per day over several weeks to lay the groundwork for a permanent food delivery service for small Irish towns. — Photos: Bloomberg
In the suburbs of Dublin on a windy, overcast day in January, several alumni of Airbus and the UK’s Royal Air Force watched as a flying object, shaped a bit like a crouching frog, hovered about 10 meters (33 feet) up in the air.
The craft, called MNA-1090, opened its cargo bay door, and lowered a package – about the size of a shoebox – to the ground on a string. The robotics engineers who’d helped design the vehicle opened the carton, looked inside, and smiled: the dozen-or-so pots of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream were still perfectly frozen.
Manna Aero employees remove a parcel containing Ben & Jerry's brand ice cream from an MNA-1090 delivery drone, during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland.
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The Manna Aero MNA-1090 drone delivering a parcel of food during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. Manna.aero is preparing to run a couple of hundred drone test flights per day over several weeks to lay the groundwork for a permanent food delivery service for small Irish towns. — Photos: Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 drone delivers a parcel of food during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 delivery drone sits on the ground during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 drone hovers overhead during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Miles Isted s Jacob, Head of Aircraft Engineering at Manna Aero, uses a flight controller to pilot the MNA-1090 delivery drone during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 drone hovers above ground during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 prepares to land and unload a parcel of food during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Manna Aero employees load a parcel of food into the MNA-1090 delivery drone, during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Manna Aero employees remove a parcel containing Ben & Jerry's brand ice cream from an MNA-1090 delivery drone, during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 drone delivers a parcel of food during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 delivery drone sits on the ground during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Manna Aero employees inspect the MNA-1090 delivery drone, during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Branding decals sit on the fairing of a Manna Aero MNA-1090 delivery drone, during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
A Manna Aero employee loads a parcel of food into the MNA-1090 delivery drone, during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
A Manna Aero employee displays where food parcels are loaded into the MNA-1090 delivery drone, during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Bobby Healy, chief executive officer of Manna Aero, poses for a photograph next to the MNA-1090 delivery drone at his home in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
A flight controller for the Manna Aero MNA-1090 delivery drone sits on the ground during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Bobby Healy, chief executive officer of Manna Aero, walks past the MNA-1090 delivery drone at his home in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Bobby Healy, chief executive officer of Manna Aero, poses for a photograph next to the MNA-1090 delivery drone at his home in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Bobby Healy, chief executive officer of Manna Aero, poses for a photograph at his home in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Bobby Healy, chief executive officer of Manna Aero, poses for a photograph at his home in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Propeller blades sit on the Manna Aero MNA-1090 delivery drone ahead of a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Bobby Healy, chief executive officer of Manna Aero, poses for a photograph at his home in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Bobby Healy, chief executive officer of Manna Aero poses for a photograph at his home in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Miles Isted s Jacob, Head of Aircraft Engineering at Manna Aero, pilots the MNA-1090 delivery drone during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 drone hovers above ground during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Bobby Healy, chief executive officer of Manna Aero, poses for a photograph at his home in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
Manna Aero employees inspect the loading hatch on the MNA-1090 delivery drone, during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
The Manna Aero MNA-1090 drone hovers overhead while unloading a parcel of food during a flight demonstration in Dublin, Ireland. — Bloomberg
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