Top package delivery company ships medicine via drone

The United Parcel Service is joining the race for drone delivery. The company successfully delivered medicine to Children's Island near Boston, according to the Wall Street Journal. UPS, one of the world’s largest package delivery companies, used a drone from CyPhy Works to ship the medicines. This is the latest drone delivery made since the US Federal Aviation Administration implemented new rules on the commercial use of drones in August.

The UPS is not the first delivery company to use drones. DHL has been testing drone deliveries in the Bavarian Alps for some time, clocking up more than 100 shipments as of May. The loosening of restrictions in the US has also led to other technology companies exploring their options. Google announced it will test burrito deliveries at the Virginia Tech campus. Amazon has been exploring drone deliveries for some time and Wal-Mart followed suit by announcing its intention to test deliveries using DJI drones.

The commercial use of drones is driving the need for more automation. DJI's Phantom 4 introduced some automated features such as the ability to follow users and avoid objects. These are good features to have for athletics, but they become more critical in business settings. Drones are increasingly being relied upon for things such as agriculture and surveying.