This week in Drone News: Skydio announces the X2D drone and a series of new software. UPS Flight Forward and Matternet expand their delivery network at hospitals. The CEO of Kittyhawk discusses an increase in LAANC authorization in the last 6 months. 

Skydio's new drone : 00:43

Expanded delivery network for UPS/Matternet : 02:42

Increase in LAANC authorisations : 04:50

Now on Podcast : 06:21

Script/notes

Skydio Launches Skydio X2 commercial Drone

Skydio announced the launched of a new commercial drone called the X2. 

Comes in two format: X2D and X2E

X2D: designed for the US Army as a reconnaissance drone 

X2E: designed for first reponders and enterprise

Comes with a 360-deg camera and a FLIR system (320x256)12 MP photos, 35 minutes flight time, 6.2 mi range

Also comes with a new set of software, including 360 zooming, 180 vertical images for inspections, and scanning software. 

Will start shipping 4th quarter of 2020. 

Skydio also raised $100 million to speed up the development of their drones and marketing efforts.

https://dronelife.com/2020/07/13/skydios-x2-drones-ceo-adam-bry-talks-breakthrough-autonomy-and-100-million/

UPS Flight Forward expands

UPS Flight Forward is expanding its hospital delivery network with the helps of Matternet M2 drones. 

They will carry patient specific and time/temperature sensitive medicine

They will also carry PPE to medical professionals. 

This is happening in Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina. 

They have made more than 2200 deliveries so far (4400 flights)

Increase in LAANC authorization

Jon Hegranes, CEO and Co-founder of Kittyhawk, said that LAANC authorizations are hitting an old time high. 

There have been over 320,000 LAANC authorizations granted with more authorizations granted this year than in the first 21 months of LAANC.

Over a third of all LAANC authorizations were granted in the first 6 months of 2020.