Is Drone Delivery Available In Michigan?

No, Drone Delivery Is Not Yet Available In Michigan as a Test

What is drone delivery?

Drone delivery is a method of transporting goods using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones to customers. In several experimental tests, retailers and drone delivery companies are loading packages or goods onto a drone, which then flies to the delivery destination like a customers home residence. The drone uses GPS, sensors, and other systems to ensure that it reaches the correct location and will often land and detach the package or drop it down while mid-flight from it’s fuselage or lowered down on a wire system.

Drone delivery can offer several benefits, such as faster delivery times than ground based transportation, lower delivery costs and reduced carbon emissions compared to other methods. However, since drone delivery is still relatively new, it’s subject to regulation by aviation authorities to ensure safety and security and isn’t fully approved in many places. Additionally, the weight and size of packages that can be delivered by drones are limited by the battery capacity and flight time that drones currently have.

Is Drone Delivery Available in Michigan?

No, drone delivery is not currently available in Michigan. However, Michigan Medicine will begin drone delivery for medications by 2024. This implies that Michigan Medicine patients who are in need of specialty prescriptions will be able to get them delivered by drones starting in 2024.

Which Companies Currently Offer Drone Delivery in This State?

Zipline will start delivering packages through drones starting in 2024. Michigan Medicine has partnered with Zipline, a company that makes use of autonomous electric drones for deliveries to rural, suburban and urban areas. According to Zipline, their drones will be able to deliver a package 10 miles away in 10 minutes. This delivery is significantly faster than by car.

According to Marschall S. Runge, M.D., Ph.D., CEO of Michigan Medicine, dean of the University of Michigan Medical School and executive vice president of medical affairs for the University of Michigan, ” By deploying Zipline we are able to make deliveries faster than ever before, saving time for both patients and our medical workers, enabling faster, affordable pharmacy care that leads to better patient outcomes.”

He continued, “We are always looking for innovative, sustainable improvements to serve our patients. We’re thrilled to soon provide the next frontier of care to our patients with Zipline.”

Which Cities or Locations Have it Available in This State?

Drone delivery will be available in Michigan.

How Much Does it Cost?

Drone delivery will be offered to patients for free and is expected to cost the health system less than deliveries using trucks. 

How Does it Work?

According to Conor French, chief regulatory officer at Zipline, each drone dock has a 10-mile service radius. These drones can fly as far as 24 miles on a one-way trip while carrying a 6 to 8 pounds of payload.