On July 18, Airbus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with medical and security risk services company International SOS, which will result in the companies jointly studying the viability of using aircraft or UAS to deliver medical cargo and supplies.
Under the agreement, Airbus will help to define and install reliable aircraft or UAS medical cargo deliveries as part of International SOS MedSupply services.
“We hope to develop a viable business partnership where we can assist International SOS with unmanned medical cargo delivery,” says Dirk Hoke, Chief Executive Officer, Airbus Defence and Space.
Package Delivery
Package Delivery
Flirtey celebrates three-year anniversary of its 'Kitty Hawk' moment
On this day three years ago, Flirtey successfully completed the first FAA-approved drone delivery in the United States.
In collaboration with NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, Flirtey delivered pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies to an outdoor free clinic in Wise County, Virginia.
During the flights, a NASA Langley fixed-wing Cirrus SR22 aircraft picked up 10 pounds of pharmaceuticals and supplies from an airport in Tazewell County in southwest Virginia. With a safety pilot on board, the plane delivered the medicine to the Lonesome Pine Airport in Wise County.
CAAS, EASA and Airbus to develop safety standards and regulatory requirements for UAS in urban environments
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Airbus have announced that they will work together on the development of safety standards and regulatory requirements for UAS in urban environments.
“This tripartite partnership is timely as we seek to better define the operating conditions for the growing number of beneficial uses of UAS in urban environments such as Singapore, with aviation and public safety in mind,” says Kevin Shum, Director-General at CAAS.
“We look forward to working closely with our partners and sharing our experience gained thus far in developing regulatory requirements for UAS operations in Singapore.”
Aurora's Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System successfully delivers cargo to US Marines
In early May, Aurora’s Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System (AACUS) successfully delivered cargo to U.S. Marines in the Integrated Training Exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California.
According to Aurora Flight Sciences, AACUS completed its first closed loop mission from takeoff to landing for its intended purpose of actual cargo resupply to Marines, as it successfully completed an autonomous cargo sustainment flight delivering more than 500 pounds of water, gasoline, MREs, and replacement communications gear including a packed cooler to represent urgently required cargo such as blood.
HorseFly truck-launched Autonomous Drone Package Delivery System making package deliveries in Cincinnati area
Through a pilot program with the City of Loveland, Ohio and the FAA, the HorseFly truck-launched Autonomous Drone Package Delivery System is currently making package deliveries to homes in the Cincinnati area, Workhorse Group Inc. has announced.
Consumers in select Cincinnati zip codes opted-in to accept packages from Horsefly via the Workhorse Ares Drone Package Delivery App, which is designed to “seamlessly integrate with existing online e-commerce platforms.”
“We feel this is a game-changing moment to innovate the way packages are delivered for many years to come,” says Steve Burns, Workhorse CEO.
USPTO issues patent for HorseFly Truck Launched Drone Package Delivery System
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent for the HorseFly Truck Launched Drone Package Delivery System, according to American technology company Workhorse Group Inc.
The HorseFly UAS Delivery System, which is a “custom-built, high efficiency” delivery UAS, is fully integrated with the Workhorse line of electric/hybrid delivery trucks, and it meets FAA guidelines for UAS operations in the United States.
Ford testing its self-driving vehicle service in Miami
Ford has announced that it will test its self-driving vehicle service in Florida, on the streets of Miami and Miami Beach.
Ford will do this with the help of Miami-Dade County, whose mayor, Carlos A. Giménez, is on the “forefront of thinking about the future of transportation,” according to Sherif Marakby, Ford Vice President, Autonomous Vehicles and Electrification, via a post on Medium.com.
udelv makes world's first public road test deliveries using its autonomous delivery vehicle
A Burlingame, California company called udelv made the world’s first public road test deliveries on Jan. 30 using its autonomous, last-mile delivery vehicle. The vehicle made deliveries from Draeger’s Market in San Mateo, California to two nearby customers.
The vehicle, which was supervised by a safety driver and in test mode to stay compliant with existing California regulations, traveled on a 2.5-mile loop that included traffic lights, lane changes, unsignalized left turns and two delivery stops. According to udelv, the vehicle's journey was accomplished “flawlessly.”
Robomart unveils its 'self-driving bodega on wheels'
In an effort to bring online produce shopping to people’s front door, a Santa Clara, California-based startup company called Robomart has developed a “self-driving bodega on wheels,” according to Engadget. The vehicle made its debut this week during CES 2018 in Las Vegas.
As part of NVIDIA's deep learning/AI “Inception Program,” Robomart developed this concept, which relies on a Sprinter Van-sized delivery vehicle equipped with a variety of technologies, including a CAN motion control system, and enough route planning and obstacle avoidance software—including LiDAR, radar, and cameras—for it to reach the highest level of autonomy, Level 5.
Ford and Postmates to spend 2018 exploring self-driving technologies
Ford and on-demand delivery company Postmates have announced that they will work together to “explore the sustainable application of self-driving technologies within local economies.”
Through this partnership, Postmates becomes the first on-demand delivery partner for Ford’s self-driving program.
During the first phase of their pilot, Ford and Postmates will evaluate and measure several things, including “what the merchant experience needs to be at the point of delivery, what the customer experience needs at the point of drop-off, and how the hardware of self-driving technology may need to be outfitted when integrated with an on-demand network.”
