About the unmanned service
Delivery by drones (unmanned airmail, English delivery drone) is a method of delivery / transportation of various goods (food, medicines, etc.) using commercial drones. Most of the solutions proposed today are based on configurations with six or more rotors. The delivery box is placed in a compartment located at the bottom of the copter (or attached to the drone itself by means of a mounting mechanism). After delivery, the client receives the parcel, either by removing it from the cable launched from the drone soaring in the air (which eliminates the need for landing), or takes it from the compartment after the UAV has landed.
Today, drone delivery is one of the key areas of focus for both large UAV manufacturers and companies specializing in the delivery of goods around the world. In this article, we will tell the reader about what prospects await delivery drone, as well as who will be the first in this area of business.
Top Developers
Today, four American companies developing commercial drones for delivering goods are among the first successful companies:
- Amazon
- Wing Aviation
- Uber Technologies
- UPSTakeoff and landing are carried out vertically. To carry out high-speed flight, the drone switches from horizontal to semi-horizontal mode. The drone can make a 20-kilometer round trip, and it promises delivery within 30 minutes. The drone uses machine learning algorithms in combination with an infrared sensor system to detect wires, birds and buildings. The company programs its drones for different scenarios so that they know what to do when, for example, they arrive at a delivery location.
Wing Aviation
The design of the Wings Aviation drone is even more unusual. To implement vertical takeoff and landing, their drone is equipped with 12 small propellers. For horizontal flight at higher speeds, wings with two large propellers are provided. The Wing drone lowers the parcel using a cable, which excludes landing from the delivery process. Able to carry out delivery within 10 minutes at a distance of up to 19 kilometers.
Wing aviation has been testing its drones since 2014 in Australia. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company has completed more than 80,000 tests. As previously mentioned, Wing Aviation is partnering with FedEx and Walgreens to deliver small packages to Christiansburg, Virginia. The developer does not inform by means of what technologies the definition and overflight of obstacles is carried out.
Uber Technologies
The Uber drone received a traditional configuration. This is a hexacopter, which is actually a modified drone AR200 from AirRobot
UPSThe company will use these funds to expand US and global operations in urban settings..
