The Postal Service is Exploring Big Ideas for Small Drones
The Postal Service is Exploring Big Ideas for Small
Drones
By Brandi Vincent,
Staff Correspondent OCTOBER 15, 2019
Unmanned aircraft could transport packages across tough
terrains and inform future initiatives to introduce autonomous vehicles.
The United States Postal Service recently announced it’s
exploring introducing drones into its vehicle fleet to advance mail delivery
operations and support its collection of geospatial, sensor, image and other
data. The independent agency published a document of answers to potential
participants’ questions Friday, offering new details into its plans.
“The Postal Service recognizes that the ability of
[unmanned aircraft systems] to supplement mail delivery and information
collection can substantially benefit the country and further the development of
other autonomous systems,” agency officials wrote in the original request for
information.
The Postal Service currently has no incumbent contractors
fulfilling drone-related services and noted that, if implemented, this would be
a first-of-its-kind program. Through the initial RFI published in late
September, the agency does not aim to award a direct contract to a vendor to
immediately deploy services. Instead, it’s conducting market research, to
better inform the future of the postal service’s delivery operations and
potentially accelerate the safe adoption of UAS technology across the nation.
The agency noted it would likely work with multiple
entities to integrate drones into its fleet, and that it “may identify
candidates for a future solicitation” aimed at boosting its operations and
testing the viability of unmanned aircrafts to transport mail.
Regulated by Federal Aviation Administration rules, the
Postal Service anticipates integrating drones to support services such as “long
driveway delivery” by launching drones from vehicles to make deliveries and
then return on their own as carriers continue along their routes. They could
support difficult deliveries to remote places like small islands or across rugged
terrains. The agency also aims to explore a “ride-sharing model,” through which
customers can access an application to connect with USPS drone fleets for
“business to customer” delivery options. In the future, it may also offer
infrastructure as a service, which would enable drone service providers to
leverage USPS tools, data and services to accomplish tasks like farm or power
line inspections.
It is also considering using drone technology to capture
geospatial, compressed visual and sensor data to create “three dimensional
mapping for use in autonomous vehicle initiatives” and its own land and
facility management efforts.
The agency is interested in operating beyond the visual
line of sight and intends to run the drones for eight continuous hours a day,
at a minimum. They’ll make four flights and deliveries a day on average, but
may also embark on up to three deliveries during each hour they operate. The
UAS may also make additional stops to collect data, as directed, and they’ll
fly or hover over water, a variety of terrains, “and, eventually, over city
streets.”
In the question and answer document published most
recently, the Postal Service said that they initially want the unmanned system
to carry packages of up to 55 pounds, which complies with current FAA
regulations.
“However, the postal service is evaluating whether larger
package sizes and weights may be needed to meet some objectives,” it said.
It also added that it will host an industry day to
showcase key technologies, depending on the subsequent responses it gains to
this RFI. Ultimately, the agency wants drone operators and developers
interested in providing it with drone-led mail delivery and supporting services
to weigh in on all that they have to offer.
Comments should be sent by email no later than Nov. 4.
FAA recently certified package-delivery giant UPS to
operate the first-ever national drone airline system, which it will use to
deliver and transport medical supplies to facilities across the country.
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