Delivery Drones News

Related Unmanned Systems Industry News

July 2023: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has expanded a contract for developing artificial intelligence (AI) driven techniques for drone sensors to Sarcos Technology and Robotics Corporation.

May 2022: Teledyne FLIR Defense was awarded a USD 14 million contract to deliver its Black Hornet 3 Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS) to the United States Army. The advanced nano uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being used to augment squad and small unit-level surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities as part of the Army’s Soldier Borne Sensor (SBS) program.

May 2023: The US Army awarded a contract to Griffon Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Nevada, and Textron Systems and moved forward without AeroVironment for future tactical UAS. Through the FTUAS competition, the US Army is seeking to find a long-term replacement for its Textron Systems RQ-7Bv2 Shadow tactical UAV. FTUAS is due to enter full-rate production from 2025 until 2029.

February 2022: The US Air Force selected the Advanced Aviation Company AAC for the development of small unmanned aerial systems within the AFWERX program. AAC’s HAMR UAS incorporates a multi-rotor configuration with a hybrid fuel-electric propulsion system for multiple, simultaneous payload capabilities and extended endurance.

February 2023: BAE Systems Australia unveiled a new unmanned military aircraft that will be designed, manufactured, and armed in Australia. The new STRIX unmanned air system (UAS), launched at the Avalon Air Show, is capable of air-to-ground strikes and surveillance and reconnaissance.

November 2022: Chinese drone companies displayed various tactical drones at the 14th Airshow. Various UAV products were exhibited, such as the WJ-700 “Falcon” large-scale inspection and attack UAV of the Third Academy of Aerospace Science and Industry, AVIC’s Wing Loong-1E medium and low altitude UAV, LoongUAV’s Loong 4 multi-rotor precision surveillance tactical drone as well as the Rainbow-4 medium-range surveillance drone which has been developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology.

July 2023: The US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract to develop an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft system capable of operating from a moving Navy ship at sea.

May 2023: Xwing was awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research Contract with the US Air Force's AFWE Prime program. Under the Agreement, Xwing will carry out independently conducted flight tests using its Superpilot helicopter system with a view to improving the development of Remote Piloting and optimizing technology for future missions. The trials will be conducted on the Cessna 208B, with a view to obtaining feedback from users as quickly as possible in terms of user convenience, mission planning factors, and functions for future efforts.

August 2023: Field Group selected Alva Industries for the ATLUS X60 electric propulsion system to increase the safety and efficiency of infrastructure inspection due to the product’s exceptional performance, reliability, and long lifetime. Field Group placed a large initial purchase for the systems to be installed on the UAV fleet.

December 2022: Orbital Corporation Ltd. and Animal Dynamics signed an agreement to foster collaboration and drive innovation in an advanced propulsion system for Stork-STM UAVs. The collaboration aim was to explore initial concepts for heavy fuel engine systems in Animal Dynamics’s heavy lift uncrewed aircraft systems.

• February 2023: Austal USA delivered the US Navy its autonomous capable EPF 13 ship. Austal integrated an automated maintenance, health monitoring, and mission readiness capability into EPF 13. It will enable the vessel to operate for up to 30 days without human intervention in combination with existing highly automated hull, mechanical & electrical systems installed on EPF class vessels.
• August 2022: Avikus, a subsidiary of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, received an autonomous navigation solution order from SK Shipping and Sinokor Merchant Marine. Under the contract, the Avikus HiNAS 2.0 autonomous navigation solution would be installed on 23 vessels, including container ships and LNG carriers.

• November 2022: Chinese drone companies announced that they would showcase their small military bombing drones at the opening of the 14th China Airshow. These small UAVs will be capable of carrying six 60mm or four 82mm mortars through a simple module installed on shells at a cost of less than USD 10.
• June 2022: DJI launched the DJI RS 3 and DJI RS 3 Pro, which incorporate a range of new features for filmmakers. It has a redesigned axes-locking system that makes the process automated. By simply turning on the gimbal, the automated axis locks release and unfold the gimbal, allowing the operator to get started in seconds.

June 2023: Southern Company, in partnership with Skydio, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a conditions-based waiver enabling remote-based, autonomous BVLOS dock operations across its system. The waiver is one of the first of its kind and will integrate autonomous drone systems in support of remote-based monitoring and inspection. The BVLOS waiver will assist the Southern Company system with remote-based infrastructure monitoring and inspection at plant sites, substations, and other fixed site locations, allowing more efficient inspections, mapping, and monitoring.

May 2023: In a pioneering global initiative, a fleet of 8 autonomous drones commenced daily flights within the confines of the Antwerp port area. This groundbreaking endeavor stands as a testament to innovation, playing a pivotal role in fortifying the overall security measures of the expansive port complex. The recently inaugurated D-Hive drone-in-a-box network represents a collaborative effort involving the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, DroneMatrix, SkeyDrone, and Proximus. Covering an extensive expanse of over 120 square kilometers, the Antwerp port area is set to benefit immensely from the coordination facilitated by the D-hive drone network, streamlining operations with a focus on efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Notably, the operation of the 18 BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone flights will be meticulously overseen from a centralized Command-and-Control Centre, strategically situated at the heart of the bustling port.

• As of June 2022, Amazon's drone delivery service, Prime Air, plans to launch its drone services by the end of this year. Drone deliveries will first launch in Lockeford, California. Prime Air is collaborating with both the Federal Aviation Administration and Lockeford's local officials on an ongoing basis to obtain permission from the appropriate authorities to begin drone delivery operations.
• In May 2022, Walmart announced plans to expand drone deliveries to 4 million potential households. In making the move, Walmart says it plans on broadening its existing drone delivery network to 34 sites in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Virginia, allowing it to transport more than a million orders to customers' homes each year. The aerial service will be available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m, and cost USD 3.99 for each package of up to 10lbs.

In January 2022, Percepto, a company that provides autonomous inspection solutions using industrial robotics, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations for Delek US Holdings' refineries in Texas and Arkansas. Following the approval, Percepto drones inspected the facilities and provided visual data management and analysis to the customer.

In August 2021, the Indian state of Tamilnadu announced that it would deploy drones to curb illicit mining of minerals through survey and monitoring of around 1,700 quarries. The drone survey project will be implemented at an estimated cost of USD 3.3 million (INR 25 crore) per year.