Session to introduce Rakuten Drone project, and to explain Rakuten’s approach towards emerging Drone technology. The session will cover both general information about drone industry like regulation issues, and more detail information about our new technology behind Sora Raku service, which was held at Camel Golf Course held in May https://tech.rakuten.co.jp/

1. Powered by
USING UAVs IN E-COMMERCE & GOODS DELIVERY
Takayuki Kageyama
Drone Project Promotion Section New Service Development Company

2. 2
What is so significant about Drone?
It can fly autonomously
Flight Controller & Sensors
What is Drone?
A Flying Robot

3. 3
Usage of Drone in Commercial Market
• Aerial Photography
• Inspections
• Precision Agriculture
• Delivery
etc.

4. Drone Regulation Enacted from 10 Dec. 2015
Source: 国土交通省無人航空機（ドローン・ラジコン機等）の飛行ルール
http://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_tk10_000003.html
Rules for Way you Fly
Rules of Where you Fly
• Only allowed to fly during daytime (Sunrise to Sunset)
• Fly within visible range, and always monitor drone and its surroundings
• Drone must keep 30 meter distance between third party person or buildings.
• Drones are not allowed to fly over events with large number of people.
• Drone are not allowed to carry flammable items.
• Drones are not allowed to drop items from it while flying.
Permission from MLIT needed, when violating
A. Near airports C.DID area
B. Altitude
over 150m
Other then
A,B,C
Permission from MLIT needed, for A,B,C

5. 5
Overview of Drone Usage Trend
Entertaining / Recording
Protecting/ Inspecting
• Toys
• Hobbyists
• Aerial Photography
• Public Safety
• Wildlife
• Oil Rigs/Wind farm
• Cell Towers
• Agriculture
• Mining
• Bridges
• Situational Awareness
• Operations
Management
• Asset Tracking
• Employee Oversight
• Modeling/Mapping
• Environmental
Monitoring
• Online Retail
• Local Stores
• Restaurants
• Legal Papers
• Medical
Evaluating/ Managing
Delivery/ Transporting
Modeling/MappingBridge Inspection Delivery Drone
Source: AQU Technology Reserch Institute Inc.
特別調査編 その1.空飛ぶロボット、ドローンの用途開発の動向 p73
…2014 2015/2016 2017/2018 2019…
Aerial Photography / Video

6. 6
3,600
3,100
2,900
3,800
3,000
3,400
3,200
0
3,500
3,700
3,300
2,928
2011
3,220
3,401
3,526
3,212
2012 2015
2,939
3,745
3,6143,637
2005 2014
3,137
20082006 2007 20132009 2010
3,232
Current Logistics Situation
 Number of delivery is increasing
 Being able to deliver fast and precise would be an important factor for
the growth of Japanese economy
「平成２７年度 宅配便等取扱個数の調査及び集計方法」
MM
Transition of delivery number in Japan
http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001139889.pdf

7. 7
Three Issues in Logistics Industry
Increase in the number of re-delivery
 Decrease in labor productivity
 Attempted delivery but absence
 35% in Tokyo
• Inefficiency of Re-Delivery
• Traffic Congestion
Heavy traffic due to increase in distribution
amount
Need extensive infrastructure
improvement to solve traffic problem
Decrease in the number of truck drivers &
the aging of drivers
• Labor Shortage

8. “So” “Ra” “Raku”
Overview of Sora Raku

9. 「Sora Raku」First Project @ Golf Course
For about one month, we provided drone delivery service to public
Service Overview
• Location:
Camel Golf Resort
（Chiba Prefecture）
• Term: 1month (5/9-6/10)
• Delivery Point： １location
• Number of Drones： 2 drones
• Way of Flight： Autonomous Flight
• Way of Order: Smartphone App
• Number of Items： About 100

10. Rakuten Drone Service Introduction

11. Media Coverage Highlights
Lists of Media
FINANCIAL TIMES
Nikkei Newspaper
NHK
TV Asashi
Others

12. 12
Service Flow of Sora Raku
Order Info
Depart
Use specially developed software to
launch the drone in a single button.
Golfer （Order） Staff （Receive Order ＆ Delivery）
Staff will pack the item at the depo and
set it on drone to deliver it to the delivery
point.
Drone Delivery
Golfer will specify the current location
and place order. Weight indicator is a
new feature.

13.  Fully autonomous flight
Drone Delivery Service
@ Golf Course

14. Introducing “Tenku”
Payload: 2kg
Distance: 5km

15.  Fully autonomous flight
 Dedicated shopping app & drone app
Drone Delivery Service
@ Golf Course

16. Weight Indicator
Shopping App (Customer-side)
Add to Cart
Shopping Cart
Product Select

17. Flight Status
Departure
Drone Management App (Staff-side)
Source: Google Map

18.  Fully autonomous flight
 Dedicated shopping app & drone app
 Technology development
Drone Delivery Service
@ Golf Course

19. Precise Landing System
 Image Recognition
 Beacon Signal

20. Auto Release Function

21.  Fully autonomous flight
 Dedicated shopping app & drone app
 Technology development
 Safety measures
Drone Delivery Service
@ Golf Course

22. Monitoring Camera & Speaker Anemometer
Safety Measures

23. Safety Measures

24. Key Takeaways from the Drone Delivery Project
1. Customer Voice

25. Customer Voice

26. Customer Voice Movie

27. Key Takeaways from the Drone Delivery Project
1. Customer Voice
2. Better Safety Measures

28. Better Safety Measures
Weather is the most unpredictable factor

29. 1. Customer Voice
2. Better Safety Measures
3. Efficient Landing
Key Takeaways from the Drone Delivery Project

30. More Efficient Landing

31. Key Takeaways from the Drone Delivery Project
1. Customer Voice
2. Better Safety Measures
3. Efficient Landing
4. Operational Know-how

32. Operational Know-how

33. Key Takeaways from the Drone Delivery Project
1. Customer Voice
2. Better Safety Measures
3. Efficient Landing
4. Operational Know-how
5. Easy-to-use Applications

34. Easy-to-use Applications
Prototype
Drone delivery service should be operated by staff members of a service provider
Source: Google Map

35. Future Application
 Delivery service at urban areas

36. Future Application
Makuhari Project (Chiba, Japan)
Makuhari New City
Rakuten Fulfillment Center
Source: Google Map

37. 37
Our Main Three Pillar
Support areas with
difficulty in logistics
Provide new efficient
delivery solution
Drone delivery to a
disaster-affected area as
needed
Drone can be used not only for business but also for a social goods use
Infrastructure incase of
disastrous situation
Logistic solutions by
using drones and our
applications
 We have three main pillars that we focus in using drone delivery
New experience & more
convenient delivery
system

38. 38
Pioneering Undeveloped Airspace
 Industrial Revolution of Sky can be possible by using undeveloped airspace
with drones
Short distance
Parcels (small size)
○○ ○
Altitude 150m
Altitude 30m
Drone
Short & long distance
Human & Cargo (big size)
△× ×
Cars/Trucks
Long distance
Human & Cargo
CostCongestion
×△
Less HR
△
Aircrafts

39. 39
Aerospace Industry Revolution

40. Interested in Drone Delivery Service?
Contact Information:
Name: Takayuki Kageyama
Email: takayuki.kageyama@rakuten.com