{"id":22904,"date":"2017-11-14T22:46:29","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T03:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/ups-aims-to-deliver-last-mile-efficiencies-by-drone\/"},"modified":"2017-11-14T22:46:29","modified_gmt":"2017-11-15T03:46:29","slug":"ups-aims-to-deliver-last-mile-efficiencies-by-drone","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/ups-aims-to-deliver-last-mile-efficiencies-by-drone\/","title":{"rendered":"UPS Aims to Deliver Last Mile Efficiencies by Drone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Looking Skyward for Opportunities<\/strong><\/p>\n

United Parcel Service (UPS) is known for embracing digitization to improve process efficiency, including using data to optimize the order in which deliveries are made and reducing the number of left turns its trucks make through smart routing.1,2<\/sup> Given the rapid increase in drone technology and affordability over the past decade, UPS is exploring avenues to integrate autonomous systems into its existing delivery practices. While launching drones from a central warehouse to a network of customers is currently cost ineffective due to delivery distances and aircraft weight limits, large efficiencies can be gained by pairing a drone with a human driver in parallel processes to complete the last mile.3<\/sup> These efficiencies have the potential to be economically significant, too, with UPS estimating that one less mile driven per truck each day will result in $50 million in annual cost savings.4<\/sup><\/p>\n

But UPS is not alone in the race towards making drone delivery a reality. Major players in the space include Amazon, Google, and Mercedes Benz, among others, each investing millions to deliver your package the fastest.3,4<\/sup> With supply chains becoming increasingly open to incorporating drones into their distribution strategies the industry will only become more crowded and complicated, and that\u2019s before you introduce the government.5<\/sup><\/p>\n

An Idea Takes Flight<\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/xx9_6OyjJrQ<\/p>\n

In February 2017, UPS unveiled to the public its vision for drone-augmented delivery when it successfully launched a drone from a modified truck, delivered a package to a nearby yard, and recovered the aircraft atop the truck in a different location.4<\/sup> Although a second test showed the program still needs improvement before it is ready for full integration, UPS is optimistic that in time the initiative will greatly improve driver efficiency and result in substantial time and emissions savings.4,6<\/sup> In the short term, UPS is working to improve reliability and will continue testing in rural areas where the company most immediately expects to realize efficiency gains due to greater driving distances between delivery locations and a relatively easier regulatory environment in those areas.4<\/sup><\/p>\n

In the longer term, UPS is positioning itself to help shape government policy regarding drone operations within the national airspace system by serving on the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) drone advisory committee.4<\/sup> The committee, established in 2016, is charged with exploring issues pertinent to a variety of stakeholders in order to accelerate manned and unmanned aviation integration.7<\/sup> Under current regulations, drones flown for commercial purposes must be flown within line-of-sight of a certified drone pilot in uncontrolled airspace and may not overfly people or fly at night.8<\/sup> While these rules are designed to minimize risks associated with current drone technology, as unmanned systems mature there will be opportunities to relax regulations to lessen pilot burden and expand operational environments. By collaborating with the FAA and leading experts from industry, academia, and local government, UPS is ensuring it has a voice in discussions to safely integrate autonomous technology and make drones a more commercially viable solution for reaching its last mile customers.<\/p>\n

Reaching Cruise Altitude<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are several technological and regulatory opportunities for UPS to improve its efficiency and operational timeline. The present implementation employs one drone per delivery truck and the drone can only deliver to one location before it must be manually reloaded by the driver.4<\/sup> A more efficient system may see multiple package \u201cbays\u201d on each drone into which presorted parcels are automatically loaded by the truck, freeing the driver to conduct more hand deliveries and increasing the number of deliveries that can be made per flight.<\/p>\n

From a regulatory standpoint, UPS stands to benefit from a recent presidential memorandum directing the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish an experimental program that empowers state and local governments to develop solutions for integrating manned and unmanned aviation.9<\/sup> The program, designed to keep drone innovation within the United States, will allow municipalities to apply for blanket approvals for drone operations within their jurisdictions. Additionally, the FAA will source best practices from these local operations for the development of future national regulations.9<\/sup> As such, UPS can gain valuable opportunities to test and implement its drone delivery program by partnering with early adopting governments while also having influence over ideas presented to the FAA.<\/p>\n

Clear Air or Stormy Skies?<\/strong><\/p>\n

While the February test was an important milestone and UPS has much to be excited about, there are still many unanswered questions surrounding the program\u2019s long-term prospects. Considering the bureaucratic nature of aviation regulation and the hot-button issues of privacy and safety, what will it take for the government, and most importantly the public, to trust drones being a part of everyday life? Additionally, as large e-commerce companies that comprise the bulk of parcel deliveries enter the drone delivery business themselves, how can UPS compete with them for talent and technology?10,11<\/sup><\/p>\n

(Word Count: 794)<\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

Photo Credit: REUTERS\/Scott Audette<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Marcus Wohlsen, \u201cThe Astronomical Math Behind UPS\u2019 New Tool to Deliver Packages Faster,\u201d Wired<\/em>, June 13, 2003, https:\/\/www.wired.com\/2013\/06\/ups-astronomical-math\/<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  2. Matthew Phenix, \u201cNo-Left-Turn Software Saves UPS a Bundle,\u201d Wired<\/em>, December 7, 2007, https:\/\/www.wired.com\/2007\/12\/no-left-turn-so\/<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  3. Jack Stewart, \u201cA Drone-Slinging UPS Van Delivers the Future,\u201d Wired<\/em>, February 21, 2017, https:\/\/www.wired.com\/2017\/02\/drone-slinging-ups-van-delivers-future\/<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  4. Graham Warwick Washington, \u201cUPS Tests Truck-Launched Drone Delivery With Workhorse,\u201d Aviation Week and Space Technology<\/em>, February 24, 2017, http:\/\/awin.aviationweek.com\/ArticlesStory.aspx?id=4b53c274-7352-4034-ba04-74c12ff35a99<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  5. Kevin O\u2019Marah, \u201cWhy Drones Belong On Your Supply Chain Roadmap,\u201d Forbes<\/em>, September 22, 2016, https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/kevinomarah\/2016\/09\/22\/drones-belong-on-your-digital-roadmap\/#67e50bde26fe<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  6. \u201cUPS delivery drone has glitch at launch event,\u201d February 22, 2017, BBC, http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/technology-39051971<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  7. Federal Aviation Administration, \u201cFAA Administrator Makes Two Major Drone Announcements,\u201d https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/news\/updates\/?newsId=85528<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  8. Federal Aviation Administration, \u201cFly for Work\/Business,\u201d https:\/\/www.faa.gov\/uas\/getting_started\/fly_for_work_business\/<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  9. Tanya Snyder, \u201cWhite House rolls out state and local drone pilot program,\u201d Politico<\/em>, October 25, 2017, https:\/\/www.politicopro.com\/transportation\/story\/2017\/10\/white-house-rolls-out-state-and-local-drone-pilot-program-163895<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  10. Matthew Boyle, \u201cWal-Mart Applies for Patent for Blimp-Style Floating Warehouse,\u201d Bloomberg<\/em>, August 18, 2017, https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2017-08-18\/wal-mart-s-amazon-war-takes-to-skies-with-floating-warehouses<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n
  11. Amazon, \u201cAmazon Prime Air,\u201d https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Amazon-Prime-Air\/b?node=8037720011<\/a>, accessed November 2017.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    While much has been made about Amazon\u2019s Prime Air drone delivery program, the world\u2019s largest parcel delivery company is not sitting by idly. 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