Disaster relief drone pilot programme
The UPS Foundation, American Red Cross and drone manufacturer CyPhy Works have launched a pilot programme that will test the use of a tethered drone to assess the damage done by Hurricane Harvey. In a statement issued today (8 September), Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation and chief diversity and inclusion officer, said: “With such catastrophic injury and damage being caused by natural disasters, every minute counts. It’s essential that public and private organizations work together to find new and innovative solutions to support and enhance recovery efforts after a natural disaster strikes.
“Accurately and quickly assessing the impact is a critical step to help save lives and lay the groundwork for eventual recovery and rebuilding. The UPS Foundation is pleased to bring together, fund and support this effort, in partnership with CyPhy Works and the American Red Cross.”
UPS has already taking part in programmes aimed at exploring the use of drones to deliver humanitarian aid in hard-to-reach parts of the world. In May of last year, UPS entered into a partnership with Zipline, a California-based robotics company, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to help create the world’s first national medical drone delivery network in Rwanda. And, last September, UPS and CyPhy Works conducted a test using a drone for delivery of urgently needed medical products to a remote, difficult-to-access location off the coast of Massachusetts.
