The project has established three primary modes of application: daily services, emergency support, and disaster response. Daily services address the two-way transportation needs of remote residents, facilitating the delivery of living supplies and the shipment of agricultural products. Emergency support enables the rapid dispatch of drones to distribute time-sensitive resources, such as medicines and medical equipment. Furthermore, in the event that remote areas become isolated “islands” due to natural disasters, drones used for daily logistics can be immediately repurposed for disaster relief operations, maximizing their utility and safeguarding the security of residents.
Since 2020, the project has been implemented in three distinct phases:
2020–2022 (Technical Verification / Proof of Concept, PoC): Completed testing on the Pingtung Donggang–Liuqiu route and in the Lalashan area of Taoyuan. This phase verified flight capabilities across maritime and mountainous terrains and addressed various technical challenges.
2023–2025 (Service Verification / Proof of Service, PoS): Conducted long-term field operations in the indigenous tribes of Kiwit and Dali in Hualien to accumulate operational experience and confirm performance reliability.
From 2025 (Commercial Operation Verification / Proof of Business, PoB): Collaborating with Chunghwa Post and public-private sectors to build sustainable business models and promote the normalization of services. Additionally, this phase involves practical drills for drone-based disaster supply transport to strengthen emergency response capabilities, establish a solid safety guarantee for remote residents, and enhance overall disaster resilience.
Looking ahead, the IOT will continue to advance the testing and verification of drone logistics to accumulate practical experience, cultivate professional talent and operational teams, and assist in the development of the industry. The ultimate goal is to “accumulate capacity through commercial operations during peacetime, and immediately deploy for support during disasters,” delivering convenience and well-being in daily life while protecting lives and homes when calamities strike.
Drone supply transport testing at Dali Tribe, Taroko, Hualien
Emergency supply transport drill using drones at Dali Tribe, Taroko, Hualien.
Illustration of Chunghwa Post postal services integrated with drones.