Drone Delivery

We’re now learning more about the December crashes that forced Amazon to pause its drone delivery operations — and the details are eye-opening. According to a new Bloomberg report, a software update made Amazon’s MK30 drones vulnerable to rain, ultimately causing them to shut off mid-air after mistakenly thinking they had landed.

As disruptions to USAID’s global aid programs continue, Ghana has taken swift action to ensure vital medical supplies reach its citizens without delay — or additional cost. In a decisive move, the Ghanaian government has deepened its partnership with Zipline, a US-based company known for using drones to deliver medical goods, to maintain consistent access to life-saving health commodities.

Drone Express, now operating as DEXA, has reached two major milestones in its mission to bring fast, autonomous drone deliveries to your doorstep. The Ohio-based company has received FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certification, allowing it to fly drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) for commercial deliveries across the US. It also earned a spot on the Department of Transportation’s S-1 List — an exclusive list of drones approved for safe, national operations.

Drone delivery might still feel futuristic in many parts of the world, but in one Irish town, it’s already part of everyday life. Manna Aero, a Dublin-based startup, is now completing up to 80 autonomous deliveries per drone a day and it’s not just grocery runs or takeout orders. In one case, a customer even had a hot coffee dropped off by drone.

After years of testing, trial runs, and tinkering with logistics, Walmart has formally launched its latest drone delivery service in Texas’ Dallas-Fort Worth area — this time in partnership with Zipline, the world’s largest autonomous drone delivery service.

Known as Zips, Zipline’s “Platform 2” delivery system takes a step forward to bring drone delivery to the home, a dream of all drone delivery companies on the market. Will this be the one that finally succeeds? MKBHD dropped a video this week checking out their testing site, showing how the new system works.

As larger heavy-lift VTOL UAV technology evolves, it’s becoming more and more likely that the US Navy will be at the forefront of drone use of this size in real-world applications, reducing costs to taxpayers and decreasing the risk to service members needed to transport supplies between ships and shore.

Imagine a world where a single fleet of drones can patrol urban waterways, rescue struggling swimmers, and even deliver your lunch — all without a human pilot at the controls. That future is here, thanks to A2Z Drone Delivery.

Editors note: This article has been updated with statements from an Amazon spokesperson.

Amazon’s drone delivery dreams have once again hit turbulence with the company temporarily halting its 60-minute drone delivery service in Texas and Arizona following a series of crashes involving its new MK30 drones. The decision comes after two drones crashed during tests at Amazon’s Pendleton, Oregon, site in December — one of which caught fire on impact.

Walmart’s ambitious foray into drone delivery with DroneUp, launched in 2021, has come to an end. The announcement marks a significant shift in Walmart’s evolving strategy for last-mile delivery solutions, even as drone delivery gains traction in the retail world.

Amazon Prime Air recently launched its most advanced delivery drone in the West Valley Phoenix Metro Area of Arizona and College Station, Texas. The MK30 — promising faster, quieter, and safer deliveries — is now delivering items (weighing five pounds or less) in under an hour to eligible customers. The aircraft is part of Amazon’s ambitious vision to deliver 500 million packages globally by the end of the decade. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Amazon delivery drone.

German drone maker Wingcopter and Japan’s ITOCHU Corporation and have successfully tested the delivery of research blood using drones in Okinawa, Japan. Partnering with ANA Holdings and the Japanese Red Cross, the trial spanned the 53-kilometer route between the cities of Urasoe and Nago, highlighting the promise of drone technology in improving medical logistics.

Can you legally shoot down a drone if it’s “bothering” you? For Dennis Winn, a 72-year-old Florida retiree, the answer has come with a $5,000 restitution order and criminal charges after he shot down a Walmart delivery drone hovering near his Lake County home.

Drone delivery company DroneUp says it has achieved Part 135 air carrier certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This certification empowers DroneUp to operate as a full-fledged air carrier, capable of delivering goods via drone Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) and over populated areas.

Tech giant DJI has achieved an important milestone with its FlyCart 30 drone. The heavy-duty drone has officially received the Type Certificate (TC) from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, becoming the country’s first medium-sized multi-rotor transport drone to pass this rigorous certification process.

Aerial logistics specialist Drone Express has rebranded as DEXA as it moves closer to obtaining Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 certification. This transition marks the company’s shift from operating under FAA’s Part 107 to aiming for full certification as an Air Carrier. Once approved, DEXA will be able to conduct autonomous Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights for commercial drone delivery purposes across the United States.

Autonomous drone delivery specialist DroneUp is driving down the cost of drone deliveries to an astonishing $7. The company has unveiled a series of new technologies, aiming to make drone delivery more affordable for businesses like retailers, quick-service restaurants, and healthcare providers.

Silicon Valley is about to see a major transformation in home delivery, with drones now taking to the skies. Matternet, a pioneer in drone technology, has launched the first-ever drone delivery service in California, offering residents in Mountain View and Sunnyvale an ultra-fast, zero-emissions way to receive food and other goods right at their doorstep.

Wing Aviation, Google’s on-demand drone delivery unit, is joining forces with Serve Robotics to create a more efficient and eco-friendly last-mile food delivery solution that leverages both drones and sidewalk robots.

The grocery delivery landscape in the US is evolving rapidly, and a report by Wing – the drone delivery firm owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet – offers a detailed look at the industry’s future.

Ohio-based logistics company Drone Express has begun offering its drone delivery service to the city of Winston-Salem in North Carolina.