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Vanuatu to trial drone delivery of vaccines to remote islands

Nick Lavars October 31, 2018

Of all the potential uses for drones, using them to deliver life-saving medicines in developing countries is one of the most promising. The government of Vanuatu is now set to see what all the buzz about, announcing plans to trial vaccine-carrying drones before the year is out.

Drones

DHL Parcelcopter takes to Tanzanian skies

Ben Coxworth October 5, 2018

When we last heard about courier company DHL's Parcelcopter delivery drone, it had been delivering medication to a remote island village and a mountaintop community, both in Germany. Now, the most recent version of the aircraft has just completed a pilot project in Tanzania.

The Parcelcopter 4.0 flies over Lake Victoria

Drones

Uber imagines five-minute food deliveries with hamburger-toting drones

Nick Lavars May 17, 2018

At the Uber Elevate conference last week, the company revealed that it is kicking off a test program that could one day bring items to a customer via drone in as little as five minutes.

Uber will start by exploring the idea of drone delivery indoors in San Diego

Drones

Zipline announces faster-than-ever drone delivery service

Ben Coxworth April 3, 2018

Zipline made headlines when it launched what it claimed was the world's first national drone delivery service, for transporting blood to medical clinics in Rwanda. Now, the company has announced an overhaul of that system, which involves upgrading to the "world's fastest delivery drone."

Drones will reportedly now be launched within one minute of receiving an order

Robotics

Eliport delivery robots won't need us humans

Ben Coxworth March 16, 2018

When you think about the challenges involved, perhaps using aerial drones to deliver goods to peoples' homes just isn't feasible. That's why several groups are developing ground-based delivery drones. One of the latest, Eliport, envisions a system in which people don't even need to be involved.

Plans call for Eliport robots to travel on sidewalks, amongst pedestrians

Robotics

Italian delivery drone takes to the streets

Ben Coxworth December 27, 2017

Since there are still challenges to overcome regarding the widespread use of aerial delivery drones, ground-based models may end up beating them to entering frequent service. One of the latest to hit our radar is the two-wheeled self-balancing YAPE, from Italy's e-novia.

YAPE travels mainly on sidewalks and bike lanes

Drones

Amazon patents delivery drones that self-destruct in mid-air

Nick Lavars December 3, 2017

Public safety is central to Amazon's drone delivery plans, and a new patent shows the company is thinking outside the square in this regard. It is considering drones that can break apart in midair, to spread the loads of metal and plastic raining down if something goes wrong.

While the Federal Aviation Administration continues to ponder the safe integration of drones into US airspace, ...

Aircraft

Russian unmanned, long-range, hybrid multirotor wants to do the heavy lifting

Loz Blain November 21, 2017

This chunky multirotor can carry up to a 400-lb payload, and fly for up to eight hours. The SKYF uses the power and endurance of gasoline engines for lift, and the instant torque of electric motors for control and stabilization, resulting in a heavy-lift, affordable multirotor using today's tech.

Automotive

Workhorse's electric delivery van launches drones from its roof to cover the last leg

Nick Lavars November 7, 2017

Vans have been a staple of the delivery game for decades, and we are starting to see how they might be mixed with a potential staple of the delivery future. Electric vehicle maker Workhorse is the latest company to build a courier van that launches a drone from its roof for last-mile journeys.

Workhorse's N-Gen delivery van can launch a drone from its rooftop

Drones

Trump moves to usher in the drone era with new pilot project

Nick Lavars October 25, 2017

Before letting the unmanned aircraft off the leash, the US is working to make drone rules that keep operators happy and the public safe. The effort just got a nice little nudge along, in the form of a new pilot project designed to overcome some of the challenges posed by low-altitude drone flight.

A new pilot program announced by the US Department of Transport aims to accelerate the integration ...