ATLANTA, April 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced
its participation in a multi-state study on the use of drones for
humanitarian disaster relief operations.
The study was coordinated by Measure, a 32 Advisors Company
specializing in drone applications, on behalf of the American Red
Cross and participating companies, including UPS. The study was
initiated to help inform decision-making on key issues related to
drone use and policy.
The study's findings, which demonstrated the ways new
technologies and resources can be implemented to help communities
recover, were shared with local, state and federal emergency
managers, along with officials in Congress and the Executive Branch
during an event today in Washington, D.C.
As part of the market study, UPS's analysis and logistics
expertise was used in the creation of the project scope and
evaluation criteria. UPS assessed different scenarios where drones
could be utilized for delivery to difficult-to-reach locations, as
well as potential deployment considerations of such usage,
regulatory implications and safety protocols.
"UPS routinely develops and evaluates new technologies,
including but not limited to drones, that aid deliveries to
difficult to access locations," said Mitch Nichols, UPS senior vice
president of transportation and engineering. "We believe autonomous
and semi-autonomous technology can solve a critical need for
humanitarian logistics and effective crisis response."
Conducted between October 2014 and April 21, 2015, the market
study consisted of interviews with officials in three U.S. states
that had experienced recent relief operations, including Washington
state (March 2014 mudslides), New York (Hurricane Sandy) and New
Jersey (Hurricane Sandy).
Along with the interviews with state officials, UPS
examined data obtained under different test scenarios during a
drone demonstration in Disaster City, Texas, facilitated by Texas
A&M University on March 26, 2015.
The demonstration evaluated drone platforms for key operating
characteristics, ranges and payloads, while simulating various
relief and flight scenarios.
By working with manufacturers, government agencies and
non-profit organizations to field-test new fuels and technologies,
UPS continuously identifies and integrates advanced technologies
and operational efficiencies into its large, global transportation
fleet.
"We have been working with the American Red Cross and other
relief organizations to improve the supply chain for humanitarian
aid," said Nichols. "This is a long-standing area of focus for our
company, and complements the work of The UPS Foundation. UPS
personnel on numerous occasions have applied their expertise in
logistics and supply chain management to solve global
challenges."
In March, The UPS Foundation announced the launch of the
UPS Relief Link program in partnership with UNHCR, the U.N.'s
refugee agency, to improve the lives of displaced refugees around
the world through optimized distribution and tracking of critical
supplies in crisis-affected areas. UPS Relief Link combines the use
of a hand-held scanning tool and durable identification cards to
deliver superior efficiency by eliminating paper records in the
refugee camps.
The program was developed leveraging UPS's proprietary Trackpad
technology, which was first implemented to assist The Salvation
Army with relief efforts following the devastating earthquakes in
Haiti in 2010. The technology provides full visibility into the
supply chain journey of urgently-needed items through the critical
'last mile' of delivery to refugees, where human tracking and data
input errors often lead to inconsistent delivery and
distribution.
To read the detailed findings of the market study on drone use
in humanitarian response, visit www.measure32.com.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a
broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages
and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the
deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the
world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than
220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found
on the Web at ups.com® and its corporate blog can be
found at Longitudes.ups.com. To get UPS
news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
CONTACT: Andy McGowan
(404) 828-4663
amcgowan@ups.com
