- UPS works with truck-launched drone-maker Workhorse Group in
latest test
- Test demonstrates potential efficiencies drones can provide
on rural delivery routes
- Unlike previous drone tests, UPS/Workhorse test incorporates
drone delivery into day-to-day delivery operations
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Feb. 21, 2017 /CNW/ - UPS (NYSE:UPS) announced
today that it has successfully tested a drone that launches from
the top of a UPS® package car, autonomously delivers a
package to a home and then returns to the vehicle while the
delivery driver continues along the route to make a separate
delivery.
UPS conducted the test on Monday in Tampa, Fla. with Workhorse Group (NASDAQ:
WKHS) an Ohio-based
battery-electric truck and drone developer. Workhorse built the
drone and the electric UPS package car used in the test.
"This test is different than anything we've done with drones so
far. It has implications for future deliveries, especially in rural
locations where our package cars often have to travel kilometres to
make a single delivery," said Mark
Wallace, senior vice-president of global engineering and
sustainability, UPS. "Imagine a triangular delivery route where the
stops are kilometres apart by road. Sending a drone from a package
car to make just one of those deliveries can reduce costly
kilometres driven. This is a big step toward bolstering efficiency
in our network and reducing our emissions at the same time."
UPS has about 102,000 delivery drivers on the road each day.
Rural delivery routes are the most expensive to serve due to the
time and vehicle expenses required to complete each delivery. In
this test, the drone made one delivery while the driver continued
down the road to make another. This is a possible role UPS
envisions for drones in the future.
"Drivers are the face of our company, and that won't change,"
Wallace said. "What's exciting is the potential for drones to aid
drivers at various points along their routes, helping them save
time and deliver on increasing customer service needs that stem
from the growth of e-commerce."
The drone used in yesterday's test was the Workhorse HorseFly™
UAV Delivery system. It is a high-efficiency, octocopter delivery
drone that is fully integrated with Workhorse's line of
electric/hybrid delivery trucks. The drone docks on the roof of the
delivery truck. A cage suspended beneath the drone, extends through
a hatch into the truck. A UPS driver inside loads a package into
the cage and presses a button on a touch screen, sending the drone
on a preset autonomous route to an address. The battery-powered
HorseFly drone recharges while it's docked. It has a 30-minute
flight time and can carry a package weighing up to 10 lb.
For this test, Workhorse preset the route for the drone. But in
the future, routes could be determined by UPS's On-Road Integrated
Optimization and Navigation (ORION), which is the company's
proprietary routing software.
"It's wonderful to see this technology applied in such a
practical way," said Stephen Burns,
Workhorse founder and CEO. "The drone is fully autonomous. It
doesn't require a pilot. So the delivery driver is free to make
other deliveries while the drone is away."
UPS has been testing automation and robotics technologies,
including drones, for years. Last September, UPS staged a mock
delivery of urgently needed medicine from Beverly, Mass. to an island three miles off
the Atlantic coast. Additionally, UPS is using drones extensively
for humanitarian relief, partnering with third-party organizations
to deliver life-saving blood and vaccines to hard-to-reach
locations in Rwanda. UPS also is
utilizing drones to check inventory on high storage shelves in its
warehouses.
Unlike all of the previous tests, the most recent UPS drone test
shows how drones might assist in making non-urgent residential
deliveries as part of the day-to-day operation.
Last year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued
small unmanned aircraft systems rules that allow for some
commercial use of drones and paved the way for future expanded
applications. UPS was one of 35 selected from a cross section of
key stakeholders to serve on the FAA's drone advisory committee.
The committee will provide the FAA recommendations on key drone
integration issues that will ultimately allow for safe and secure
operations of drones within the National Air Space System.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in
logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including
transporting packages and freight; facilitating international
trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage
the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries
and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web
at ups.com and its corporate blog can be found
at longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS news direct,
visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS or follow
@UPS_Canada.
About Workhorse Group Inc.
Workhorse Group, Inc.
(NASDAQ: WKHS) is a U.S. – based original equipment manufacturer of
medium duty EPA-approved battery-electric delivery vehicles and
fully integrated truck-launched, FAA compliant unmanned aerial
systems (UAS) delivery drones. Workhorse trucks have historically
been sold to the largest fleets in the USA and Canada for last-mile delivery and related
uses. For additional information visit www.workhorse.com
SOURCE UPS Canada Ltd.