Anna Forrester
The U.S. Postal Service could receive a proposal on its future delivery vehicles that offers the capability to launch drones to help in delivering packages, Federal Times reported Tuesday.
Andy Medici writes that Workhorse Group proposes the use of an all-electric delivery truck with functions that enable it to launch drones, with the aim of completing the delivery route in a shorter amount of time.
The company worked with the University of Cincinnati to develop the technology, which consists of the Workhorse truck and the Horsefly drone, the report said.
Duane Hughes, director of sales at Workhorse Group, noted that the offering works to facilitate operational cost savings and delivery efficiency.
The fifth-generation Horsefly can carry 10 pounds and fly at 50 miles per hour, while the Workhorse has a range of 50 to 100 miles.
Medici reports that the company is among others that are bidding on USPS’s procurement of 180,000 new delivery vehicles under a potential $4.5 billion contract.
Program requirements include an operational life of at least 20 years, a capacity of at least 1,500 pounds, improved fuel economy, lower maintenance needs and design flexibility, the report said.
USPS plans to issue the request for proposals in May and award contracts for testing prototypes in July, with the final award for production scheduled for January 2017, Medici writes.
