Verizon, UPS, and Skyward announce connected drone delivery at CES 2021
Skyward, a Verizon company, and UPS Flight Forward are collaborating to deliver retail products via drones connected to Verizon's 4G LTE and upcoming 5G networks in The Villages, Florida. UPS CEO Carol B. Tomé emphasized the necessity of 5G for managing multiple drones safely. The partnership seeks to enhance the delivery experience, leveraging the low latency of 5G technology. UPS has successfully conducted over 3,800 drone delivery flights since 2019, with a focus on providing contactless delivery options during the pandemic. This collaboration aims to improve safety and efficiency in drone logistics.
- Collaboration between Verizon and UPS aims to advance drone delivery technology using 5G.
- UPS has successfully completed over 3,800 drone deliveries, showcasing operational capability.
- Deployment of 5G technology is anticipated to enhance the safety and efficiency of drone logistics.
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PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skyward, A Verizon company, and UPS Flight Forward today announced collaborative efforts to deliver retail products with drones connected to Verizon 4G LTE, as well as 5G testing and integration for delivery. The companies aim to deliver retail products via connected drones at The Villages in Florida.
“We will need the ability to manage and support multiple drones, flying simultaneously, dispatched from a centralized location, operating in a secure and safe environment. To do this at scale, alongside Verizon and Skyward, we’ll need the power of 5G,” said Carol B. Tomé, CEO of UPS.
“We’re just beginning to see how the power of 5G Ultra Wideband will transform the way businesses operate,” said Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer at Verizon. “By partnering with UPS and other innovative companies, we can learn from each other’s expertise and collaborate to create solutions that help move the world forward.”
In 2020, Verizon, UPS Flight Forward, and Skyward started testing 4G LTE in delivery drones to demonstrate cellular reliability and performance at altitude.
“The low latency of 5G and edge compute is ideal for monitoring air traffic in and out of a busy logistics hub, especially those using mixed fleets of autonomous vehicles like drones, trucks, and planes,” said Mariah Scott, Skyward President. “This year, we’ll be taking the collaboration with UPS further 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 in 2020, drone delivery emerged as much more than rapid delivery of essential healthcare items — during the global pandemic it provided high-risk seniors a rapid and contactless delivery option to remain healthy at home.
“Using Verizon’s 5G and Skyward, we’ll be able to transform the delivery experience - more personal, more on-demand and with the same safety, efficiency, and reliability our customers trust today,” said Bala Ganesh, Vice President, Advanced Technology Group at UPS.
About Verizon:
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) was formed on June 30, 2000 and is celebrating its 20th year as one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information and entertainment products and services. Headquartered in New York City and with a presence around the world, Verizon generated revenues of
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Media contact:
Jess Moody
jessica.moody@skyward.io
907-602-3313
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