A2Z Drone Delivery

A2Z Drone Delivery develops a patented tethered freefall drone delivery system, which allows drones to deliver parcels without landing, as well as cargo delivery drones. Its product portfolio includes;

1. Freefall drone delivery system “RDS1” (Rapid Delivery System 1) technology (launched in October 2020): Can carry a maximum payload of 4.4 lbs. and cover a range of 2.2 miles. It comes with onboard LiDAR, electronics, A2Z firmware, and cameras for navigation. The payload’s freefall is controlled by a delivery mechanism to ensure a safe and accurate touchdown, while the drone hovers at altitudes of up to 150 feet. Customers can either purchase the technology à la carte or as an integration with DJI drones.

2. Dual-drop commercial drone “RDSX” (launched in August 2021): Can carry two payloads at a time (weighing up to 4.4 lbs each) covering a range of around 11 miles or can be configured to carry one parcel over a range of around 19 miles. RDSX is integrated with A2Z’s tethered freefall drone delivery system. It is also equipped with two cameras for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.

3. Second-gen automated delivery winch “RDS2” (unveiled in August 2022): Can carry 22 lbs and does not require specialty delivery boxes. Its patent-pending auto-release function allows for the release of the package without the need for landing or a human receiver. It can also pick up loads of up to 11 lbs while hovering. RDS2 can either be integrated into its own cargo drones or purchased as a stand-alone product for a range of other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

4. Cargo drone model “RDST” (introduced in August 2022): Comes equipped with onboard LiDAR, GPS, and cameras for navigation. It can also handle a payload of up to 11 lbs covering a nine-mile round trip.

5. Delivery drone “RDSX Pelicon” (launched in May 2023): Can fly at a maximum speed of roughly 50 mph, carrying up to 11 lbs and covering a range of 31 miles without payload (25 miles with an 11 lbs payload). It also has a modifiable open-source flight controller, which allows users to integrate their preferred flight systems and companion software with the drone. The unit is available in three variations starting at USD 29,000.

6. Delivery drone “RDST Longtail” (launched in August 2023): Can fly at a maximum speed of 45 mph, carrying roughly 20 lbs. The standard model can cover a range of 12.4 miles, while the premium model drone can cover 16.2 miles. The unit is available for purchase starting at USD 20,000.

In addition to drones, the company also offers a portfolio of commercial drone docks called “AirDocks,” which enables drones to automatically charge and expand service areas by moving between docks (launched in August 2024).

The company operates under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for the pilot testing of deliveries (Part 107 qualification). It has its global headquarters in California and also has a test facility in Anji County, China, delivering items including food and beverages, medical supplies, and other residential packages.

Key customers and partnerships

In March 2021, A2Z Drone Delivery partnered with drone solutions provider DroneUp to customize and integrate its RDS1 technology into DroneUp drones for residential deliveries. This marked the first commercial deployment of the RDS1. The company also announced a partnership with Arrive (formerly DroneDek), a developer of landing platforms for drone deliveries, in October 2022, to integrate DroneDek’s smart mailbox with RDS2 for drone-based deliveries.