UPS began a collaboration with the German start-up Wingcopter for the development of a new type of a delivery drone to use it for drone delivery efforts in the US and worldwide.
Wingcopter already designed an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft with a range of up to 75 miles which can reach speeds as high as 150 miles per hour in wind speeds or up to 45 miles per hour.
The start-up will work closely with the subsidiary of UPS, Flight Forward, the dedicated drone delivery unit that UPS developed last year in July for their commercial drone delivery program.
The Flight Forward received the FAA approval to operate a full-range drone airline at a scale for package deliveries.
What Does the Wingcopter Offer?
The drones of Wingcopter have vertical takeoff and landing capabilities, as well as fixed wing high speed horizontal flying at speeds up to 150 mph and a range of 75 miles.
According to the company, the drones can withstand wind speeds of 33 mph and gusts up to 44 mph. The wingspan is 5.8 feet and the drone’s length from nose to tail is 4.3 feet.
The patented tilt-motor mechanism enables seamless transition between the 2 modes-for hovering and for low noise forward flight.
The Wingcopter was used in Vanuatu to help deliver vaccines to children in remote areas of the island that would otherwise require more than a 6-hour walk.
In other beyond visual line of sight flights, the Wingcopter deliver insulin from the North Sea to one Irish island.
The power of the drone to lower the packages without a landing spot increases the range additionally.
The Story of 2 Amazing Brands Is Now United
The CEO and co-founder of Wingcopter, Tom Plummer, said on the collaboration with UPS that they’re more than proud because they’re a global giant in logistics and delivery.
Together, he explained that their aspirations are to prolong the speed and reach of the package delivery.
The vision of Wingcopter has always been to leverage tech to better the lives of people globally and the relationship with UPS will speed up their growth and expansion and strengthen their role as leaders in the drone tech industry.
Their plan isn’t solely to deliver medical supplies to hospitals and medical facilities, but also use the drones for prescriptions, medical products, and retail delivery in residential settings.