Workhorse Group Receives Notice of Allowance for HorseFlyâ„¢ Truck Launched Drone Package Delivery System Patent
CINCINNATI, Feb. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Workhorse Group Inc. (NASDAQ: WKHS), an American technology company focused on providing sustainable and cost-effective solutions to the commercial electric transportation sector, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a notice of allowance for the HorseFly Truck Launched Drone Package Delivery System patent application.
The HorseFly system adheres to all current FAA safety regulations for drone package delivery, as each package is delivered within the delivery driver's "line of sight."
The truck launched drone system is designed to assist a driver as follows:
The truck delivery driver loads the package and launches the HorseFly drone
The HorseFly drone autonomously launches from the roof of the delivery truck, gains altitude and proceeds to the delivery location
At the delivery location the drone autonomously descends and the package is released
The HorseFly drone returns to the delivery truck at a planned stop and autonomously redocks and recharges for its next delivery
The system was first successfully tested in a rural delivery, launching the drone with package from atop a truck. The HorseFly system provides significant cost efficiency by eliminating extra miles of driving to deliver packages.
"We believe, as we proceed with the patent application process, that the HorseFly truck launched drone package delivery system will be the first major change to the last mile delivery process since the invention of the truck. The HorseFly system is designed to work with the truck driver to increase efficiency," said Steve Burns, Workhorse CEO. "We feel this is a game-changing moment in time that will innovate the way packages are delivered for many years to come."
The HorseFly UAV Delivery System is a custom-built, high efficiency delivery UAV that is fully integrated with the Workhorse line of electric/hybrid delivery trucks. The HorseFly system conforms to FAA guidelines for UAV operation in the U.S. Most notably, being fully integrated with delivery trucks, the system is designed such that a driver or driver's assistant can maintain line-of-sight operation of the UAV delivery process.
About Workhorse Group Inc.
Workhorse is a technology company focused on providing sustainable and cost-effective solutions to the commercial transportation sector. As an American original equipment manufacturer, we design and build high performance battery-electric vehicles including trucks and aircraft. We also develop cloud-based, real-time telematics performance monitoring systems that are fully integrated with our vehicles and enable fleet operators to optimize energy and route efficiency. All Workhorse vehicles are designed to make the movement of people and goods more efficient and less harmful to the environment. For additional information visit www.workhorse.com.
Featured Product
Nion: Next-level time-of-flight
The new Nion 3D camera advances Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology with exceptional resolution, speed, and industrial robustness. Designed for demanding applications such as logistics, warehousing, industrial automation, and robotics, Nion delivers high-resolution depth data with real-time performance for faster, safer, and more flexible operations. At its core is the 1.2-megapixel Time-of-Flight sensor AF0130 from onsemi's Hyperlux ID family, offering up to four times the resolution of conventional VGA-based ToF cameras and significantly higher data density. Active 940-nm laser illumination ensures accurate and stable measurements in low-light conditions, artificial lighting, and even direct sunlight. With an IP67-rated housing, Nion is built for reliable operation in dusty, wet, and thermally challenging industrial environments. A user-friendly API with IDS peak support and compliance with the GigE Vision standard enable fast integration and flexible deployment in high-resolution 3D applications. The Nion 3D camera is now available from IDS Imaging Development Systems.
