Autonomous systems are transforming business and the economy, and their impact on the future will grow with increased integration into our daily lives. Recent advancements in urban air mobility (UAM) – autonomous systems that transport cargo and passengers at low altitudes in urban and suburban areas – are moving us toward a safer and more efficient transportation future. However, the momentum of this evolving industry also brings challenges posed by increased urban noise.

Wingcopter has secured $22 million in Series A funding to strengthen its leadership in drone-based logistics, with a special focus on healthcare-related applications including the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. “Our team is driven by tackling the world’s challenges through scalable innovations,” said Wingcopter CEO Tom Plümmer. “This chapter of our journey is dedicated to setting up logistical highways in the sky that leapfrog traditional means of transportation.” 

Skyfront has announced that its Perimeter drone was recently used to perform the first ship-to-submarine delivery via small UAS. During the flight, the long-endurance hybrid-electric Perimeter drone showcased its ability to resupply submarines at sea in a quick and cost-effective manner.  Skyfront’s command and control handoff capability was unveiled during the flight. Pilots aboard the surface vessel launched the drone and flew it near the submarine. Once there, pilots aboard the submarine took control of the drone and released the package onto the top of the sub.

EHang has unveiled the EHang 216L, which is the logistics version of the company's EHang 216 designed for short-to-medium-haul air logistics in both urban and rural areas. Boasting a payload of more than 440 pounds, which to EHang’s knowledge is the largest for multi-rotor autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) for aerial logistics, the EHang 216L opens up more commercial opportunities for the company in various urban and rural short-to-medium-haul aerial logistics use cases that require frequent and point-to-point flight tasks. One example that EHang highlights is in mountainous areas with poor road conditions, the EHang 216L can help boost the local economy by more quickly and efficiently transporting agricultural products.