u-blox

Case studies

RigiTech: u-blox PointPerfect Flex positions certified drone delivery platform to enable logistics providers to enter the Air-Delivery market

Vertical Take off and Landing (VTOL) platform opens market for logistics sector with centimeter-level precision 

Red Rigitech long-range delivery drone - Eiger

RigiTech develops certified, long-range drone delivery systems designed specifically for point-to-point B2B logistics. Its purpose-built VTOL aircraft, cloud-based software, and operational framework allow logistics providers to easily deploy and scale aerial delivery without needing in-house drone engineering or certification expertise. To ensure the highest levels of centimeter-level positioning is achieved, RigiTech is supported by u-blox’s PointPerfect Flex, the PPP-RTK GNSS correction service and the ZED-F9P high precision GNSS receiver. With proven daily operations transporting medical samples, medicines, and other critical goods across Europe, the Americas, and beyond, RigiTech enables organizations to add fast, efficient, and resilient air-delivery capabilities to their existing logistics networks.  
 

Challenges

 

Challenge #1: Ensuring high-precision navigation and positioning for long-range, mission-critical drone logistics 

For RigiTech’s VTOL drone delivery platform to operate safely and consistently across complex logistics corridors, the aircraft requires centimeter-level positioning accuracy at all times (even during long-range missions) transitions between vertical and forward flight, and operations in GNSS-challenged environments such as medical campuses, industrial sites, and semi-urban airspace. Precision GNSS is essential for maintaining stable flight paths, predictable approach and landing sequences, and continuous compliance with airspace regulations. Without highly reliable, real-time GNSS corrections, long-range drone logistics risk drift, reduced efficiency, and increased operational limits.  

Challenge #2: Reducing the complexity of integrating high-precision GNSS into a scalable, certified logistics aircraft 

Integrating multi-band, multi-constellation GNSS with real-time PPP-RTK correction capabilities can be complex, typically involving multiple vendors, antennas, firmware stacks, and support requirements. For an aircraft intended to be deployed by logistics providers (not avionics engineers) the system must be exceptionally simple to integrate, certify, maintain, and scale. RigiTech needed a GNSS platform that offered consolidated functionality, consistent performance, and minimal integration overhead, enabling rapid deployment across fleets and geographies.  

Challenge #3: High cost, regulatory hurdles and operational complexity deter drone adoption

Developing a drone fleet internally involves navigating complex airspace regulations, obtaining certifications (especially across different regions), training staff, integrating the drones into existing logistics workflows, and implementing maintenance and battery-management regimes. For many logistics operators, the capital and overhead involved represent significant risk, especially before proving the business case for drone delivery in their network. 

Because of these challenges, many traditional logistics players have been unable to participate in, or benefit from, the growing demand for drone-based delivery services, even as demand rises for rapid medical transport, time-critical spare parts delivery, and express parcel services. 

 

How it works 

  • Rigi Technologies SA (RigiTech) offers a purpose-built, long-range VTOL quadplane, a hybrid design combining fixed-wing efficiency (for long range and speed) with vertical take-off / landing (for flexibility and minimal infrastructure).
  • The aircraft features a 3-metre wingspan, enabling efficient flight over distance. It delivers up to 100 km one-way range, cruises at 105 km/h, and is optimized for point-to-point B2B logistics missions (e.g. facility-to-facility, hospital-to-hospital, hub-to-remote-site).
  • A battery-swap system supports continuous operations, meaning the aircraft can be quickly recharged/serviced and redeployed without long downtime, crucial for high-frequency logistics lanes.
  • The platform is delivered certified and ready-to-use: RigiTech handles airworthiness, compliance, and certification (in the EU and the USA), meaning logistics providers don’t need to build their own regulatory infrastructure.
  • Operators integrate the drones into existing logistics workflows; handling dispatch, loading of cargo (e.g, medical supplies, spare parts, parcels), scheduling, and mission management - without having to build drone-specific engineering teams. 
Red Rigitech long-range delivery drone Eiger in flight

Outcomes

 

Outcome #1: Reliable long-range drone logistics enabled by centimeter-level positioning 

By integrating u-blox’s ZED-F9P and PointPerfect Flex, the PPP-RTK high-precision GNSS service, RigiTech achieves the navigation performance required for safe, repeatable long-range delivery missions. The aircraft maintains stable flight trajectories, precise VTOL transition behavior, and accurate landing approaches, even in environments with partial obstructions or multipath interference. This high-integrity positioning supports RigiTech’s certification requirements in both the EU and USA and enables daily operations transporting medical samples, medicines, and other critical payloads. The result is a drone-delivery platform that logistics providers can trust to perform consistently, even under challenging operational and environmental conditions. 

Outcome #2: Faster integration, simplified scalability, and reduced technical overhead for logistics providers 

Standardizing on u-blox’s high-precision GNSS ecosystem dramatically simplifies RigiTech’s aircraft architecture. The unified hardware–software stack, combining multi-band GNSS, RTK/PPP-RTK correction capability, and robust firmware, minimizes engineering effort and reduces the number of external vendor dependencies. For logistics customers, this translates into easier fleet deployment, lower maintenance complexity, and more predictable operational performance across different regions and regulatory environments. RigiTech can scale production and support globally with a consistent navigation solution, while customers benefit from a turnkey aircraft that integrates seamlessly into their logistics workflows without requiring specialized GNSS expertise. 

Outcome #3: Proven global deployment and live operations in critical sectors 

Since launching commercial operations in 2021, RigiTech’s platform has supported daily healthcare logistics across several continents, transporting blood samples, maternal milk, medicines, and cancer drugs between clinics, hospitals, and labs in Uruguay, the United States (upstate New York), and across Europe (e.g. France and Romania). This real-world track record validates both the safety and reliability of the system. 

Outcome #4: Expanded use cases beyond healthcare, enabling diversified logistics services

 Although healthcare remains the anchor vertical, RigiTech is actively positioning its platform for broader applications: spare parts delivery (wind-energy, automotive), inter-facility industrial logistics, and express parcel delivery on time-critical lanes. This diversification allows logistics providers to unlock new service offerings and revenue streams using the same drone infrastructure. 

Outcome #5: Competitive parity with drone-native operators, without building drone-specific infrastructure in-house 

By adopting RigiTech’s platform, traditional logistics providers can now offer aerial delivery services, competing directly with vertically integrated drone firms. They retain control over customer relationships, operational logistics, and service delivery, without needing to become drone manufacturers themselves. 

 

As things stand now 

  • RigiTech has deployed its drone delivery systems commercially since 2021, with a global footprint spanning Europe, the Americas, and beyond.
  • Daily operations in healthcare logistics (blood, medicines, maternal milk transport) are actively under way in multiple regions, demonstrating mission-critical reliability, certification compliance, and operational robustness.
  • Logistics companies seeking to enhance resilience, speed, and service quality; especially for remote or time-sensitive delivery routes, now have a viable, proven aerial-logistics option.
  • The platform infrastructure (aircraft, battery-swap, mission management) is mature and available, enabling companies to transition quickly from ground-based to hybrid ground-plus-air logistics. 

What’s on the Horizon 

  • Wider adoption across industrial and commercial logistics segments including spare parts delivery for energy, automotive, and manufacturing; inter-site industrial transport; and express parcel services on critical lanes.
  • Scaling up air-ground integrated logistics networks - combining trucks, vans, and drones to optimize cost, speed, and environmental impact; using drones for time-critical segments or hard-to-reach locations, while leaving mass-volume loads to ground transport.
  • Further regulatory and geographic expansion - as drone logistics becomes more widely accepted, RigiTech and its customers may expand operations into new countries and regulatory regions.
  • Continuous platform evolution - improvements in autonomy, battery technology, payload flexibility, and integration with logistics management systems to further streamline operations and reduce human intervention, making drone delivery even more cost-effective. 

Our experts are here to answer your questions
on u-blox Services.

Fill out the form attached to this button and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible:

Contact u-blox services