PORTLAND, Ore. – Skyward, a Verizon company, and UPS Flight Forward today announced collaborative efforts to deliver retail products with Verizon 4G LTE-connected drones, as well as 5G testing and integration for delivery. The companies aim to deliver retail products through drones connected to The Villages in Florida.
“We will need the ability to manage and support multiple drones, flying simultaneously, shipped from a centralized location, operating in a safe and secure environment. To do this on a large scale, along with Verizon and Skyward, we will need 5G power, ”said Carol B. Tomé, CEO of UPS.
“We are just beginning to see how the power of 5G Ultra Wideband will transform the way business works,” said Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer at Verizon. “By partnering with UPS and other innovative companies, we can learn from each other’s experience and work together to create solutions that help advance the world.”
In 2020, Verizon, UPS Flight Forward and Skyward began testing 4G LTE in delivery drones to demonstrate cellular reliability and altitude performance.
“The low latency of 5G and the margin calculation is ideal for monitoring air traffic in and out of a busy logistics hub, especially for those using mixed fleets of autonomous vehicles such as drones, trucks and planes,” said Mariah Scott , President Skyward. “This year, we will continue to work with UPS, testing 5G Ultra Wideband integrations to connect the sky.”
UPS has operated more than 3,800 successful drone delivery flights since the creation of UPS Flight Forward, its drone delivery company, certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2019. But in 2020, drone delivery came in far more than delivery. essential medical supplies – during the global pandemic, it offered high-risk seniors a quick, contactless delivery option to stay healthy at home.
“Using Verizon’s 5G and Skyward, we can transform the delivery experience – more personal, on-demand and with the same security, efficiency and reliability that our customers trust today.” said Bala Ganesh, vice president, Advanced Technology Group at UPS.