UPS delivery drones bring meds from CVS to largest retirement community
UPS delivery drones will bring medication from CVS to the nation's largest retirement community. The goal of the drone delivery service is to protect the older population as well as the pharmacy employees from contracting the coronavirus.
The UPS delivery drones will start making deliveries to The Villages early in May, according to an announcement made earlier this week. The retirement community in Florida is the largest in the United States with more than 135,000 residents.
The first flights with drones manufactured by Matternet will be less than one half mile to a location near The Villages. Normally these deliveries would have been made by truck.
UPS delivery drones are a fast and safe delivery option
Deliveries by drone provide a fast delivery option for medication that is urgently needed, while following safe social distancing guidelines to help stop the Coronavirus from spreading.
“Our new drone delivery service will help CVS provide safe and efficient deliveries of medicines to this large retirement community, enabling residents to receive medications without leaving their homes,” said Scott Price, UPS Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer.
The unmanned aircraft that are used by UPS in the drone delivery service are Matternet's M2 drones. The service will be provided under the Federal Aviation Administration's Part 107 rules. UPS is allowed to operate this way throughout the pandemic and also to explore ongoing needs as they arise after that period, according to The Denver Channel.
“Now more than ever, it's important that our customers have access to their prescriptions,” said John Roberts, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CVS Health. “In addition to our in-store pick up, free delivery services, and drive-through pick up, this drone delivery service provides an innovative method to reach some of our customers.”
What do you think of the UPS delivery drones bringing medication to a retirement community? Do you think we should be using drones more often for service like these during the coronavirus pandemic? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: UPS
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