Workhorse Group, a developer of sustainable solutions for the commercial electric transportation sector, has announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent for the HorseFly Truck Launched Drone Package Delivery System.
The HorseFly UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) Delivery System is a custom-built, high efficiency delivery UAV that is fully integrated with the Workhorse line of electric/hybrid delivery trucks. The HorseFly system conforms to FAA guidelines for UAV operation in the U.S. Most notably, being fully integrated with delivery trucks, the system is designed such that a driver or driver’s assistant can maintain line-of-sight operation of the UAV delivery process.
“We feel that the patented HorseFly truck launched drone package delivery system is the first major change to the last mile delivery process since the invention of the package delivery truck. Drivers appreciate the fact that the HorseFly system is fast, reliable, and efficient,” said Steve Burns, Workhorse CEO. “Last mile package delivery is changing, and the HorseFly delivery system is leading the way.”
Designed to assist the delivery driver, the HorseFly drone delivery system helps reduce driving time and allows faster deliveries. The result is considerably more efficiency in everyday delivery routes.
The patented HorseFly truck-launched drone delivery system works in this manner:
1) the truck delivery driver loads the package and launches the HorseFly drone
2) the HorseFly drone autonomously launches from the rood of the delivery truck, proceeding to the delivery location
3) at the delivery location the drone automatically descends and delivers the package
4) the HorseFly drone returns to the delivery truck at a planned stop and autonomously redocks and recharges for its next delivery.
