Important Innovations

  Pilot Programs Starting in Houston                                                  Sources:  Nuro & FedEx Race to Cut Package Delivery Costs by Robotics FedEx and robotics/autonomous delivery startup Nuro of Silicon Valley, CA just announced a multi-year deal to test autonomous delivery vehicles for the FedEx delivery network.  The pilot program will start in Houston, where Nuro's low speed, unmanned R2 vehicles are already making deliveries for Domino Pizza and Kroger supermarkets.  FedEx says it will start sending vehicles for late night pickups in remote areas.  The aim of the partnership is to test and deploy Nuro's next generation autonomous delivery vehicles on a large scale basis.  The next G Nuro is all electric, low speed and self-driving with no space for humans only cargo. Race to Cut Costs Parcel delivery companies are racing to find ways to cut the cost of package deliveries.  UPS is experimenting with drone deliveries.  Freight and logistics companies are e

  Beta Technologies' Electric Aircraft                                             Source:  Beta Technologies Speedy Package Deliveries   UPS just announced that it will start package deliveries by electric planes  - specifically e-VTOLs or electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles.  UPS has agreed to buy ten e-VTOLs, called ALIA-250, from Vermont based startup Beta Technologies.  UPS has the option to buy another 150 aircraft from the company.  The new form of transportation is designed to accelerate deliveries in small market areas. Designed to Be Autonomous Beta Technologies e-VTOLs are highly advanced.  The ALIA-250, inspired by the Arctic tern, takes off and lands vertically and then transitions into long range flight. The electric vehicles have a range of 250 miles and a cruising speed of 170 mph. They are designed to operate autonomously when the regulatory environment permits.  The electric aircraft have a cargo capacity of 1400 pounds. The wingspan is 50 feet and the

  FAA Approves Small Drones Flying Over People & At Night                                                      Source:  Amazon Opens the Way to Widespread Commercial Drone Deliveries The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has just approved small drones flying over people and at night.  This regulatory clearance is viewed as enabling the start of widespread commercial drone package deliveries in the US.  For companies like Amazon, Walmart and UPS, this is a long-awaited decision and a big business opportunity.  Until now, drones have been restricted to very limited operations involving direct participants and required FAA clearance and waivers for more public exposure, such as testing drone package deliveries in specific neighborhoods. Security Issues The FAA is addressing security concerns by requiring remote identification technology on the drones so they can be identified from the ground.  The new regulations take effect in March.  Drone manufacturers have up to 18 months to p