The collaboration comes as last-mile delivery networks face mounting pressure from labour shortages, rising costs, urban congestion and increasing demand for faster, more reliable fulfilment. Autonomous aerial delivery is emerging as a potential solution, offering scalable alternatives to traditional ground-based distribution.

Under the agreement, SoftBank Robotics America will act as a systems integrator and support efforts to accelerate the commercialisation of autonomous solutions.

Brady Watkins, president and GM of SoftBank Robotics America, said the industry is reaching an inflection point for autonomous logistics: “The challenge is not the technology, but rather operationalising the technology such that it produces consistent measurable outcomes.”

Matternet has already achieved key regulatory milestones, including securing both FAA Type and Production Certification. Its technology has also been used for tens of thousands of commercial drone flights across urban and suburban environments.

The partnership will initially target sectors where speed and reliability are critical.

Andreas Raptopoulos, founder and CEO of Matternet, said the goals it to “help build the autonomous delivery infrastructure for healthcare, commerce, and industry”.