Package Delivery

UPS, CVS complete first revenue-generating drone deliveries of medicine in North Carolina

On Friday, Nov. 1, UPS Flight Forward Inc. (UPSFF) and CVS Pharmacy Inc. successfully completed the first revenue-generating, residential drone deliveries of medical prescriptions from a CVS pharmacy to customers in Cary, North Carolina. One of the people on the receiving end of these landmark deliveries was a CVS customer with limited mobility, which makes it hard for them to make the trip to the store to pick up their prescription. “We now have an opportunity to offer different drone delivery solutions, tailored to meet customer needs for speed and convenience,” says Scott Price, UPS chief strategy and transformation officer.

UPS and CVS made their first residential drone deliveries of prescription medicines on Friday, Nov. 1 in Cary, NC. Photo: UPS

University of Wisconsin-Madison launching autonomous delivery robot service

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s University Housing Dining & Culinary Services is launching a new food delivery service utilizing Starship Technologies’ autonomous delivery robots. “Our students are juggling more than they ever have before and we are always looking for inventive ways to support their campus dining needs,” says Peter Testory, director of University Housing Dining & Culinary Services. “This delivery service allows us to reach them in a whole new way with made-from-scratch meals we offer from our dining markets. This added convenience and flexibility of dining for students allows us to provide an affordable option for those on campus.”

Starship Technologies' autonomous delivery robot. Photo: Starship Technologies

Drone Delivery Canada to establish drone delivery hub at Edmonton International Airport

Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) will establish the

A Drone Delivery Canada UAS, photo courtesy of Drone Delivery Canada.

COMSUBPAC, University of Hawaii use UAS to deliver supplies to submarine

On Oct. 10, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) and the University of Hawaii used a UAS to deliver supplies onto a submarine off the coast of Oahu, a U.S. island in the Central Pacific. Carrying a five-pound payload that included circuit cards, medical supplies, and food, the UAS took the payload to Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Hawaii (SSN 776) while it was underway. “What started as an innovative idea has come to fruition as a potentially radical new submarine logistics delivery capability,” says Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Keithley, assigned to COMSUBPAC.

An unmanned aerial vehicle delivers a five-pound payload to USS Hawaii (SSN 776). Photo: U.S. Navy/MC1 Michael B. Zingaro

Zipline demonstrates medical drone delivery technology during multinational military forces exercises

During multinational forces exercises with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Australian Defense Force (ADF), Zipline successfully forward-deployed to Australia to pilot its life-saving UAS technology. According to Zipline, the deployment sought to showcase how its logistics network of autonomous delivery UAS could help transform emergency medicine and critical care in conflict, as well as in humanitarian and disaster relief scenarios.

Wing, FedEx launch landmark UAS delivery service in Virginia

On Friday, Oct. 18, Wing, in collaboration with FedEx Express, completed a scheduled commercial residential delivery using a UAS to a home in Christiansburg, Virginia, marking the launch of the first scheduled, commercial residential drone delivery service, and the first scheduled e-commerce delivery via drone delivery trial in the United States.