"Drone deliveries are not a one-size-fits-all proposition," says Bala Ganesh, Vice President of the UPS Advanced Technology Group. "Our collaboration with Wingcopter helps us pave the way for delivery services in new areas. UPS Flight Forward is building a network of technology partners to expand our ability to provide unique service to our customers and extend our leadership in drone delivery."

Wingcopter drones are capable of taking off and landing vertically in confined spaces, as well as transitioning to high-speed horizontal flight. This enables a wide range of applications. UPSFF could build on this foundation to develop solutions that, if approved, will go far beyond healthcare and retail to solve challenges for customers in high-tech, industrial manufacturing, hospitality, entertainment and other industries.

Wingcopter has already proven its capabilities in so-called "beyond visual line of sight" (BVLOS) projects for a variety of customers - from commercial deliveries between factories to humanitarian projects and emergency medical care. For example, Wingcopter has delivered insulin to an Irish island in the North Sea, which is often cut off from the mainland due to bad weather. On the South Sea island of Vanuatu, the start-up has successfully set up an on-demand vaccine supply system on behalf of the local Ministry of Health and supported by UNICEF to deliver urgently needed serums to various health centers within minutes.

The core innovation behind the electric drones with vertical take-off and landing is a patented swivel rotor mechanism. It enables a seamless transition between two types of drone: "multicopter" for hovering and "fixed-wing" for low-noise forward flight.

As part of this collaboration, both companies will work towards obtaining approval from the authorities for commercial delivery flights in the USA with an unmanned aerial vehicle from Wingcopter. This is the first time UPSFF has entered into a cooperation with a drone manufacturer since it was founded.

"We are proud to join forces with UPS, a global giant in delivery and logistics. Together, we want to increase the speed and reach of package deliveries," says Tom Plümmer, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Wingcopter. "Our vision has always been to leverage technology to improve the lives of people around the world. The strategic partnership with UPS will further accelerate our growth and global expansion and solidify our leadership in drone technology."

UPSFF began commercial drone delivery flights in the UPS network last year. It kicked off with a delivery service for WakeMed's main hospital and campus in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since then, the company has transported medical samples by drone, supporting a ground courier service. UPSFF also later announced plans to establish drone delivery services on several healthcare campuses and is exploring the use of drones for the delivery of retail products, prescription drugs and medical supplies in residential neighborhoods.