PORTLAND, Mineral. – Skyward, a company of Verizon and UPS Flight Forward, today announced collaborative efforts to deliver retail products with drones connected to Verizon 4G LTE, as well as testing and 5G integration for delivery. The companies aim to supply retail products using drones connected to The Villages, Florida.
“We will need the ability to manage and support multiple drones, which fly simultaneously, which are sent from a centralized location, which operate in a safe and secure environment. To do this on a large scale, along with Verizon and Skyward, we will need the power of 5G, ”said Carol B. Tomé, UPS CEO.
“We’re just beginning to see how the power of 5G Ultra broadband will transform the way companies operate,” said Rima Qureshi, director of strategy at Verizon. “By partnering with UPS and other innovative companies, we can learn from each other’s experience and collaborate to create solutions that help move the world forward.”
In 2020, Verizon, UPS Flight Forward, and Skyward began testing 4G LTE in delivery drones to demonstrate reliability and cellular performance at altitude.
“The low latency of 5G computing and edge is ideal for controlling air traffic in and out of a concentrated logistics hub, especially those using mixed fleets of autonomous vehicles such as drones, trucks and planes,” said Mariah Scott, president of Skyward. “This year, we will be deepening our collaboration with UPS by 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 by 2020, the delivery of drones drones turned out to be much more than the rapid delivery of essential health items during the global pandemic, providing high-risk seniors with a quick, contactless delivery option to stay healthy at home.
“Using Verizon 5G and Skyward, we will be able to transform the delivery experience: more personal, more a la carte and with the same security, efficiency and reliability that our customers trust today.” said Bala Ganesh, vice president of UPS’s Advanced Technology Group.