Unmanned Aerial Vehicle The latest drone news
As the battle for delivery-drone methods heats up, a number of David’s are difficult company Goliath’s like Amazon.
Workhorse Group this week introduced a patent submitting to develop a truck-launched drone bundle supply system.
Dubbed a “custom-built, high efficiency delivery UAV that is fully integrated with the Workhorse line of electric/hybrid delivery trucks,” the Horsefly will probably be FAA compliant, and being combine with supply vehicles, will keep line-of-sight flights with a driver or assistant.
“We feel that the patented HorseFly truck launched drone package delivery system is the first major change to the last mile delivery process since the invention of the package delivery truck. Drivers appreciate the fact that the HorseFly system is fast, reliable, and efficient,” mentioned Steve Burns, Workhorse CEO. “Last mile package delivery is changing, and the HorseFly delivery system is leading the way.”
According the patent summary, the system:
- Accepts a bundle for supply from the docking station on the supply automobile and uploads the supply vacation spot;
- Autonomously launches from its docked place on the supply automobile;
- Autonomously flies to the supply vacation spot via GPS navigation;
- Guided in closing supply via a human supervised dwell video feed from the drone;
- Assisted within the descent and supply of the parcel by precision sensors and if vital via distant human management.
Autonomously returns to the supply automobile via GPS navigation and precision sensors and autonomously docks with the supply automobile for recharging and preparation for the following supply sequence.
In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service shortlisted Workhorse’s bid to develop a supply system utilizing the HorseFly, an octocopter drone designed and constructed by the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science.
“We feel that package delivery by drone is here,” Burns added. “Soon your package may come to your home by HorseFly.”
Drone supply continues to develop:
- Drone Delivery Canada lately accomplished a profitable set of take a look at flights of supply drones at Griffiss International Airport in New York. Across the border, the corporate has already obtained a Special Flight Operations Certificate from Canada’s model of the FAA in addition to two earlier nationwide certificates.
- Airbus efficiently demonstrated its Skyways drone supply mission in Singapore and has entered into an settlement with SingPost to trial small parcel supply by way of drones to “designated stations” on the University campus.”
- UK-based product design and growth agency Cambridge Consultants has developed DelivAir, “a drone delivery concept that can deliver a package straight to the hands of its recipient, no matter their location,” says the corporate.
