UPS Flight Forward (UPSFF) and German drone-maker Wingcopter are partnering to develop the next generation of package delivery drones for various use cases in the United States and internationally.
Wingcopter says that UPS chose it for this collaboration for two reasons: for its UAS technology, and for its track record in delivering a variety of goods over long distances in multiple international settings.
“Drone delivery is not a one-size-fits-all operation,” says Bala Ganesh, vice president of the UPS Advanced Technology Group.
Package Delivery
Package Delivery
Kiwibots help University of Denver students learn how to build successful business
Delivery robots are popping up on college campuses across the United States, but the journey behind the Kiwibots currently operating on the campus of the University of Denver (DU) ironically enough did not begin on U.S. pavement.
Initially launched as a human-based food delivery company in Bogotá, Colombia, the first iteration of Kiwibot as a company was sold, which led to the team behind Kiwibot wanting to replicate its model where students could conduct deliveries for other students in the United States. The team found out, however, that the cost structure was not replicable from Latin America to the U.S., according to David Rodríguez, Kiwibot’s head of business.
“This was the point we decided we needed to start building robots,” Rodríguez tells AUVSI.
Starship Technologies' food delivery robots begin operating at Bowling Green State University
In collaboration with Starship Technologies, Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has become the first university in Ohio to offer a robot food delivery service on its campus.
A partnership between Starship Technologies and BGSU’s food-service provider, Chartwells Higher Education Dining Services, will result in Starship’s fleet of 30 autonomous, on-demand robots making deliveries from nine campus eateries including Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Panda Express.
UPS, Henry Schein to explore and test various UAS delivery use cases
UPS and Henry Schein Inc. have signed an agreement to explore and test various UAS delivery use cases. The use cases would examine UAS within business-to-business operating models.
As part of their agreement, the companies will focus on testing the transport of essential healthcare products by UPS to customers of Henry Schein, which provides healthcare items to office-based dental and medical practitioners.
“It is exciting to see Henry Schein come aboard this groundbreaking program,” says Scott Price, UPS chief strategy and transformation officer.
UPS, Waymo partner to begin picking up packages using autonomous vehicles in Phoenix
UPS and Waymo have partnered to test picking up packages using an autonomous vehicle in the Metro Phoenix area.
Through the pilot, packages will be shuttled from The UPS Store locations via Waymo’s Chrysler Pacifica minivans to a local UPS sorting facility for processing.
“UPS and Waymo are exploring automated and autonomous technologies to enhance network operations,” says Scott Price, UPS chief strategy and transformation officer.
“Getting packages to our sortation facilities sooner and more frequently, while also creating an opportunity for later drop-offs for next-day service, can add enormous value for our customers.”
UC San Diego Health and partners to deliver medical products between hospitals and laboratories using UAS
To speed up the delivery of services and patient care currently managed through ground transport, UC San Diego Health will launch a pilot project in February to test using UAS to transport medical samples, supplies and documents between Jacobs Medical Center and Moores Cancer Center and the Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine (CALM).
A collaboration with UPS and Matternet, the program builds off the UPS and Matternet drone project that is currently taking place at WakeMed Health and Hospitals in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Wing to deliver clothing from LSKD via drone delivery service
Wing has announced that it will now begin using its UAS to deliver clothing items from LSKD, a street/sportswear fashion label in Queensland, Australia.
The service is available through Wing’s app, as customers can select what they want from the LSKD summer collection, which includes shirts, shorts, gym wear, caps and dresses, and have them delivered to them by Wing’s UAS.
“It’s an insane feeling being the first street lifestyle clothing brand to launch air delivery with Wing in Queensland,” says Jason Daniel, founder of LSKD.
Deloitte, Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine examining benefits of using UAS to deliver medical samples
Deloitte and Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM) have announced that they are looking into how drone technology can help cut the time it takes to get medical samples to the laboratory.
The plan would be for UAS to fly genomic testing specimens to the lab to get results back to acutely ill babies and children in a quicker fashion.
