Skip to Content
Artificial intelligence

The first commercial drone delivery scheme in the US is already flying

UPS has started delivering medical samples in the US, using drones built by Matternet.

The flights: They’re taking place at the WakeMed hospital and campus in Raleigh in North Carolina. The first flight was last Tuesday, and the drones are now flying across the campus about 10 times a day, with possible plans to increase the frequency if the scheme is a success. This is the first revenue-generating drone delivery scheme to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, as part of a three-year program to test drones’ practical applications.

The drones: They can carry up to 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) of cargo over distances of up to 12.5 miles (20 kilometers). They’re autonomously flying along a set path for this project, monitored by a human pilot in case of any accidents.

The logic: Currently, most medical samples are moved around the campus by car. The hope is that these drones will help to cut traffic on the roads around the hospital and decrease costs. Moving around medical samples has proved to be one of the most compelling early uses for drone deliveries. Zipline has used drones have been used to fly blood supplies in Rwanda, for example. Other applications are taking much longer to become commercially viable.

Correction: The initial version of this article incorrectly stated that Matternet's drones have also been used to deliver blood samples in Rwanda. In fact, this service is provided by Zipline. We have now updated it.

Sign up here to our daily newsletter The Download to get your dose of the latest must-read news from the world of emerging tech.

Deep Dive

Artificial intelligence

This new data poisoning tool lets artists fight back against generative AI

The tool, called Nightshade, messes up training data in ways that could cause serious damage to image-generating AI models. 

Rogue superintelligence and merging with machines: Inside the mind of OpenAI’s chief scientist

An exclusive conversation with Ilya Sutskever on his fears for the future of AI and why they’ve made him change the focus of his life’s work.

Unpacking the hype around OpenAI’s rumored new Q* model

If OpenAI's new model can solve grade-school math, it could pave the way for more powerful systems.

Generative AI deployment: Strategies for smooth scaling

Our global poll examines key decision points for putting AI to use in the enterprise.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.