UPS and CVS inked a deal to bring drone deliveries to customers’ homes.
The partnership, which covers other unmanned aerial vehicle use cases, includes dropping prescriptions at the doors of CVS Pharmacy customers.
UPS in September received government approval to run a drone airline: The shipping company can fly pilotless aerial vehicles beyond human operators’ visual line of sight—day or night.
“As the country’s first fully certified drone airline, UPS Flight Forward is rapidly building a robust customer base and a network of technology partners to galvanize our leadership in drone delivery,” Scott Price, UPS chief strategy and transformation officer, said in a statement.
“We will create new logistics and delivery solutions no one has ever considered,” he continued. “Previous industry thinking had been limited to only ground transportation technology. Now we’re thinking in three dimensions.”
“We’re always looking to improve convenience for customers through faster, lower-cost, and more efficient delivery models,” CVS Pharmacy President Kevin Hourican added. “Given our focus on innovation, we’re excited to be the first retail health care company to explore drone delivery options with UPS.”
The United Parcel Service previously partnered with Matternet to operate daily UAV flights at WakeMed’s hospital campus in Raleigh, N.C.
Advanced FAA authorizations, however, allow the international business to broaden its program beyond healthcare networks.
Very few businesses have been given the green light under this permit, which is the same one Alphabet’s Wing received in April. Amazon and Uber Eats also applied for the designation, but have not yet received consent.
With the Part 135 Standard—the FAA’s highest level of certification—the sky’s the limit, literally.
UPS Flight Forward can fly as many drones with as many remote pilots as it wants; there are no limitations on the size or scope of proceedings.
More on Geek.com:
- Google Wing Drone Deliveries Coming Soon to Virginia Suburb
- Climate Activists Use Drones to Shut Down Heathrow
- Watch: Drone Captures Incredible View of Sheep on Colorado Peak
from Geek.com https://ift.tt/2Jdvyjh
via IFTTT
0 comments:
Post a Comment