Drones

For this first installment of Drone Disruptors, a series about the movers and shakers in the world of drone startups, Modern Shipper sat down with Flytrex CEO Yariv Bash.

Commercial drone highways are gaining traction, but not everyone thinks they’re the way forward.

DHL’s delivery drone had been in the works since 2013, but it’s been scrapped.

Like it or not, drones are entering your airspace across the United States, and they’re delivering a wide range of merchandise

The Chaparral has a set of applications for national defense, including dust-off operations; casualty evacuation; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

South Korea-based Pablo Air finds a new U.S. testing ground.

These 5 airdrops point to an exciting future for the drone industry.

Two leading drone associations agree with the NTSB regarding investigation of drone accidents, but they differ on what should trigger those investigations.

UP Partners is looking for transformative technology companies that will underpin a society dominated by unmanned aircraft.

As drone delivery services ramp up, the time is quickly approaching when warehouses will need to adjust their operations to accommodate single-package loading.

The FAA has approved a request from Flytrex to expand its drone delivery pilot program in North Carolina to include delivery to customers’ yards.

Skycart, a San Francisco-area drone startup, announced its Nimbus drone is capable of making four separate deliveries on a single flight.

UPS is partnering with companies like Zipline to take advantage
of drone technology to help deliver COVID-19 vaccines.

Ondas Holdings is acquiring American Robotics with the expectation that it can incorporate the drone company’s data-collecting capabilities into its platform for industry verticals.

“This is by far the biggest event that we have ever had to deal with,” UPS’ Dan Gagnon said about COVID.

Hypower Lab said its hydrogen fuel cell can power drones for more than three hours, increasing flight time and utility.

“It’s about speed, convenience and also being greener,” says Chris Jarvis, chief logistics officer at GoFor.

Dooner and The Dude look at the drone racing world during this episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? for FreightWaves’ DroneWaves Summit.

AgEagle CEO Michael Drozd discusses the kinds of situations in which drones will play a role in the short term — and how those roles will evolve in the longer term.

Drone delivery planning in urban environments requires many considerations, including emergency landing zones, no-fly zones, route planning, takeoff and landing sites and governmental regulations.

“You can’t just go buy a drone like ours and take off and start flying,” said Wingcopter exec on airspace regulation during the DroneWaves Summit.

UPS has ambitious plans for its drone airline, Flight Forward. Kevin Wasik, Flight Forward’s head of business development, explains why UPS is moving aggressively on drones during the DroneWaves Summit.

Manna, a drone-as-a-service company based in Ireland, has secured $25 million in funding to fuel its research and development as it plans for production of delivery drones by 2023.

Wing, which has been testing drone delivery in Virginia, has requested an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration guidelines that would allow it to operate drones remotely rather than from a central command station.

“The Wingcopter 198 is a game-changer for drone-based deliveries, ready to create logistical highways in the sky.”

Hear from drone manufacturers, shippers and more that are utilizing these devices to completely revolutionize transportation at the first and last miles of supply chains.

A U.K. laundry services company that already utilizes an app for on-demand pickup and delivery of dirty laundry has now launched Laundry Drone to make that same pickup or drop-off via drone.

UPS Flight Forward has an option to buy up to 150 electric aircraft that can transport up to 1,400 pounds of cargo each from Beta Technologies.

UrbanFootprint is looking at case studies on drone deliveries, focusing on how its tools can help municipalities and drone providers with planning logistics.

A new report from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University identifies which states are best prepared for commercial drone adoption.

Flytrex, which is testing drone grocery delivery in North Carolina, has landed $9 million in funding to help it scale production in the U.S. as it nears FAA certification.

Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter where FreightWaves adds context, commentary and color to industry news and trends.

Delivery drone manufacturer Flirtey is ramping up production and now taking preorders for its system.

As drone delivery tests ramp up, a patchwork of regulations make some states more friendly to the process than others.

FreightWaves is bringing back its in-person events this year with the F3: Future of Freight Festival in November, celebrating all things freight in a communitywide celebration throughout the city of Chattanooga.

A test of drone delivery this week by manufacturer AgEagle and startup Valqari successfully delivered food and beverages to golfers while on the course.

Walmart will begin using drones from Zipline International to run a pilot delivery program along the Arkansas and Missouri border this summer.

The FAA has given its first approval to a drone operator to fly autonomous drones outside the visual line of sight of the operator, moving the industry one step closer to potential drone deliveries.

The FAA is adding new experts to its Drone Advisory Committee.

Mainstream commercial use of small unmanned aircraft for a variety of applications, including package delivery, is around the corner. New FAA regulations create a pathway for drones to operate safely with fewer limitations.

In partnership with Quest Diagnostics and DroneUp, Walmart on Tuesday announced a new drone delivery system for one of its stores in El Paso.

Drone applications are growing by the day, but only a few directly involve airlines. Air Canada is taking a novel approach, acting as a freight intermediary that matches shippers with drone operators.

Live from the FreightWaves Carrier Summit, Andrew and Kevin host Ben Gordon, Managing Partner at Cambridge Capital and BGSA, to discuss final mile strategies, recent M&A activity and story stock […]

In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, concerns are raised about Mexican truck operations, drone delivery technology advances and Anheuser-Busch is making a switch to natural gas.

While most executives agree that digital disruption is creating winners and losers, their views on the immediate impact of most technologies remain uncertain.

The Federal Aviation Administration’s drone remote identification rulemaking was years in the making, but the agency doesn’t want to give industry and drone users extra time to comment on its […]

The two companies are exploring opportunities in the logistics market.

The use of drones and other technology will help ports streamline operations, increase safety and vigilance for drugs and pollution.

The proposed rule will cover just about every drone operating in the U.S.

Drone rulemaking delayed for fourth time this year.

Prioritizing high-risk motor carriers for interventions an added challenge.

Electric truck maker Workhorse Inc. is selling its Surefly flying car project to aerospace and defense contractor Moog Inc. for $4 million and forming a joint venture with Moog to boost its truck-based drone delivery efforts.

Drone Delivery Canada’s sales agreement with Air Canada pays off as it reaches a deal to provide a drone platform at DSV Panalpina’s facility near Toronto.

FedEx Express [NYSE: FDX] on Friday used an unmanned aerial vehicle instead of a truck for last-mile residential deliveries on behalf of pharmacy retailer Walgreens. The Oct. 18 deliveries were […]

Drewry expects service levels to be cut by lines if shippers prove unwilling to foot the bill for mandatory low-sulfur fuels.

Deliveries of automated defibrillators by drone beat paramedics by seven minutes to simulated cardiac arrest patients during round of test flights in Canada.

Diesel prices could spike by over 20% overnight due to the market coming to grips with the biggest blackswan event to hit oil in over a decade. On Friday night, […]

A new partnership between Xcel Energy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allows drones to inspect power lines out of human sight in eight states – Colorado, Michigan, MInnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

Drones may be one of the key answers to last-mile delivery. Read about how drones are being used around the world.

U.S. next day air volumes set the pace for UPS’ second-quarter results

Drones could someday deliver thousands of packages a day, but who will monitor all this air traffic?

Supply chains are embracing cutting-edge technology, in an attempt to reduce costs and increase efficiency. However, it is critical to understand which technologies to invest in to stay away from tilting the delicate balance of value chains.

You may have to become a super-shipper of choice. Don’t underestimate Walmart

Senior Vice President Michael Zahra replaces co-founder Tony Di Benedetto less than a week after company inks deal with Air Canada.

Amazon rolls out new hybrid drone design with independent sensors for enhanced safety

Agreement between Canada’s largest airline and Drone Delivery Canada creates a platform to roll out autonomous cargo aircraft on a large scale.

Secretary Chao spoke on the need for addressing legitimate public concerns on safety, security and privacy in futuristic transport technology, without hampering innovation.

A few years ago the idea of using drones for last-mile delivery were just an idea. But the idea is becoming a reality in China, Indonesia and now the USA. Read Market Expert Cathy Roberson’s views on the use of drones for last-mile delivery.

Toronto firm courting couriers as it expands beyond pilot projects.

Drone Delivery Canada’s expanded offering brings C$10 million – a month after announcement of long-range Condor model.

As the U.S. government works to ease restrictions on where drones can fly, they could become an attractive target for hackers.

Shipping trends of 2019 are requiring established freight carriers to evolve their operational models. UPS is developing more super-hubs to facilitate growth through handling more high margin shipments.

Bell Flight wants to introduce autonomous air taxis in 2020.

Other highlights: Drones wreak havoc, Amazon goes to school

Zipline has focused on humanitarian needs, delivering medical supplies to rural communities around the world.

In addition to funding the FAA for the next five years, the bill includes language that could be used to further integrate unmanned aircraft systems, like drones, into the commercial landscape.

Drones may someday soon become a primary delivery method of last-mile, but they likely won’t be the only solution, as flexibility in methods will be key to successful delivery.

Workhorse Group, a technology company focused on offering sustainable mobility solutions, announced a new public offering of its common stock to raise additional funds as it works towards profitability.

We have received word that the FMCSA is reportedly deploying military drones to beef up the ‘hard enforcement’ of the ELD mandate beginning April 1.

China approves drone package delivery; driver pay is up 15% in 3 years; Hapag-Lloyd has a plan to switch to low sulphur fuel; Trump gears up for fight with Amazon; Barclay’s thinks WTI crude will drop to $51 this year.

The cost, size, complexity and power consumption of the supercomputers and sensors on each car are the main factors preventing today’s autonomous cars from scaling.

Waymo announced late on Friday that its self-driving trucks will begin delivering goods for Google’s logistics operation in Atlanta.

JD.com, China’s largest retailer and one of Asia’s largest internet companies, joins BiTA 

Sabrewing’s battery-less, gas-electric hybrid can fly anytime, anywhere, over and around weather –- and can carry up to 3,000 lbs. of cargo up to 5,000 miles.

No surprise, the e-commerce trend has entrenched itself into the lives of consumers — for better or worse — and there’s no turning back now. Another round of retailers this year has filed for bankruptcy.

The Teamsters have opened negotiations with UPS on a new contract and they have a significant request: no drones or driverless vehicles.

Last-mile delivery might get very interesting very soon. Boeing has unveiled a prototype “unmanned electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) cargo air vehicle (CAV) prototype” capable of hauling 500 pounds.

One of the questions many ask as the electric and autonomous vehicles are introduced to market is: What happens with the “last mile” delivery? It can be the most expensive leg of deliveries, especially in rural areas.

Natilus, a startup based out of California, is looking to provide a drone solution that allows it to transport freight multiple times faster than when it is shipped across the ocean, at half the price of regular air freight.

FourKites has launched its own ELD certification program that operates on an open architecture platform to help shippers and 3PLs to assist carriers in choosing ELD solutions that offer visibility into location data.

A 2017 study by the RAND Corporation found that shifting UPS’s lightest 20% of packages in an urban setting to drone delivery would only result in a 5.7% savings in total energy-use. As the shipping industry transitions to electric trucks, the drones’ advantage in carbon emissions would also disappear.

The price of diesel fuel jumped last week, rising 6.3 cents per gallon to $2.882. The increase follows a rise in oil prices and a 20-cent jump in fuel taxes in California, that went into effect on Nov. 1.

One of the early pioneers of aerial drone use in agriculture is now looking to grow his business in more ways than one. Steve Edgar, founder of Empire Unmanned, is investigating the Pocatello Regional Airport in Pocatello, Idaho, for future use as the first-ever unmanned air-freight hub.

Trump clears regulations for commercial drone flights in the US, ushering in a new age of airfreight drones. 

The supply chain stands at the crossroads of innovation, with the impact of technology felt in different micro-niches. Here is a look at some of the technologies that are showing considerable potential and looking to change the facade of freight hauling forever.

A Chinese e-commerce company wants to make deliveries weighing as much as 1 ton with drones. JD.com is already delivering smaller packages in rural villages. Also in the news, FMCSA officials will be meeting to discuss regulatory relief for the industry and GM is facing allegations it used defeat devices to bypass diesel emissions regs on its pickups.

Flatbed hauler Daseke has decided to put some stock in its employees – literally. The publicly held company announced it will set aside 1 million shares of common stock with a current value of $9.9 million for employees. Also, a list of the world’s largest transportation companies and news on a lawsuit involving Swift. 

UPS conducted a drone delivery test in February in Lithia, FL, with Workhorse Group, an Ohio-based battery-electric truck and drone developer. Workhorse built the drone and the electric UPS package car used in the test. Read more about how last-mile delivery is changing: R2D2 may make your next delivery. 

While most people assume that drones will someday be making home deliveries, there are other possibilities including droids and even mobile parcel lockers. Whatever method or combination of methods are chosen, though, last-mile delivery may never be the same.