This week in Drone News: Skydio announces the X2D drone and a series of new software. UPS Flight Forward and Matternet expand their delivery network at hospitals. The CEO of Kittyhawk discusses an increase in LAANC authorization in the last 6 months.
\nSkydio's new drone : 00:43
\nExpanded delivery network for UPS/Matternet : 02:42
\nIncrease in LAANC authorisations : 04:50
\nNow on Podcast : 06:21
\nScript/notes
\nSkydio Launches Skydio X2 commercial Drone
\nSkydio announced the launched of a new commercial drone called the X2.
\nComes in two format: X2D and X2E
\nX2D: designed for the US Army as a reconnaissance drone
\nX2E: designed for first reponders and enterprise
\nComes with a 360-deg camera and a FLIR system (320x256)12 MP photos, 35 minutes flight time, 6.2 mi range
\nAlso comes with a new set of software, including 360 zooming, 180 vertical images for inspections, and scanning software.
\nWill start shipping 4th quarter of 2020.
\nSkydio also raised $100 million to speed up the development of their drones and marketing efforts.
\n\nUPS Flight Forward expands
\nUPS Flight Forward is expanding its hospital delivery network with the helps of Matternet M2 drones.
\nThey will carry patient specific and time/temperature sensitive medicine
\nThey will also carry PPE to medical professionals.
\nThis is happening in Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina.
\nThey have made more than 2200 deliveries so far (4400 flights)
\nIncrease in LAANC authorization
\nJon Hegranes, CEO and Co-founder of Kittyhawk, said that LAANC authorizations are hitting an old time high.
\nThere have been over 320,000 LAANC authorizations granted with more authorizations granted this year than in the first 21 months of LAANC.
\nOver a third of all LAANC authorizations were granted in the first 6 months of 2020.