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Drones

UPS partners with Wingcopter for next generation delivery drones

By Paul Ridden
March 24, 2020
UPS partners with Wingcopter for next generation delivery drones
UPS Flight Forward and Wingcopter have partnered to work on next generation package deliver drones
UPS Flight Forward and Wingcopter have partnered to work on next generation package deliver drones
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Wingcopter drones have a range of 75 miles per charge, can get up to 150 mph and withstand 44 mph winds
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Wingcopter drones have a range of 75 miles per charge, can get up to 150 mph and withstand 44 mph winds
The autonomous Wingcopter drones are capable of vertical takeoff and landing, and high-speed horizontal flight
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The autonomous Wingcopter drones are capable of vertical takeoff and landing, and high-speed horizontal flight
UPS Flight Forward and Wingcopter have partnered to work on next generation package deliver drones
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UPS Flight Forward and Wingcopter have partnered to work on next generation package deliver drones
"We are proud to partner with UPS, a global giant in delivery and logistics. Together we aspire to extend the speed and reach of package delivery," said Wingcopter's CEO and co-founder, Tom Plümmer
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"We are proud to partner with UPS, a global giant in delivery and logistics. Together we aspire to extend the speed and reach of package delivery," said Wingcopter's CEO and co-founder, Tom Plümmer
View gallery - 4 images

Last year, logistics behemoth UPS made some real headway in its ambitions to get package delivery drones in the air when the Federal Aviation Administration certified its Flight Forward program for unlimited flights. Now the company has joined forces with German drone maker Wingcopter to get a new breed of vertical takeoff and landing delivery drones into US skies.

The partnership represents the first time that UPS Flight Forward has formed a relationship with a drone manufacturer since its official launch in July 2019. And the move is seen as an important first step towards building a fleet of diverse delivery drones.

"Drone delivery is not a one-size-fits-all operation," said Bala Ganesh of the UPS Advanced Technology Group. "Our collaboration with Wingcopter helps pave the way for us to start drone delivery service in new use-cases. UPS Flight Forward is building a network of technology partners to broaden our unique capability to serve customers and extend our leadership in drone delivery."

"We are proud to partner with UPS, a global giant in delivery and logistics. Together we aspire to extend the speed and reach of package delivery," said Wingcopter's CEO and co-founder, Tom Plümmer
"We are proud to partner with UPS, a global giant in delivery and logistics. Together we aspire to extend the speed and reach of package delivery," said Wingcopter's CEO and co-founder, Tom Plümmer

Wingcopter drones are capable of vertical takeoff like a helicopter, before transitioning to fixed-wing horizontal flight when at the appropriate altitude. When they reach their destination, the drones transition again for vertical landing.

The startup's electric tilt-rotor drones can autonomously fly at up to 150 mph (240 km/h), have a range of 75 miles (120 km) and can even stay on course in winds up to 44 mph (70 km/h). They have already proven themselves capable of beyond visual line of sight operations, including the delivery of insulin to an island in the North Sea, and flying vaccines to health centers in the South Sea island of Vanuatu. Courier giant DHL has also made use of Wingcopter flyers for a project in Tanzania.

This latest partnership will aim to get Wingcopter unmanned drones rubber stamped by US regulatory authorities for delivery flights, while working on the development of the next generation of package delivery drones for the US and beyond. The video below has more on Wingcopter's technology.

Wingcopter Showreel

Source: Wingcopter

View gallery - 4 images

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DronesUPSwingcopterDelivery droneseVTOLVTOL
2 comments
Paul Ridden
Paul Ridden
While Paul is loath to reveal his age, he will admit to cutting his IT teeth on a TRS-80 (although he won't say which version). An obsessive fascination with computer technology blossomed from hobby into career before hopping over to France for 10 years, where he started work for New Atlas in 2009. Now back in his native Blighty, he serves as Managing Editor in Europe.

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2 comments
windykites
This has got to be the best drone in the world! What a superb functional, and beautiful design.
Could this be scaled up for human transportation? Using wings must save energy.
Another idea: Use a Helium inflated wing for extra lift and lightness.
DMojo
Why? How much more STUFF, faster, is needed? How much is enough? Giant mechanical mosquitoes buzzing. Bzzz! Bzzz! Careful what you wish for--audio commercials from above will be the next insult. Consume! Sacrifice any remaining vestige of peace & quite $ privacy for more stuff, faster. Monetize the sheeple... and herd them from above. Nuts.