UPS Uses Drone to Deliver Package to Boston-Area Island

United Parcel Service Inc. UPS -0.42 % said Friday it successfully used a drone to deliver medicine to an island near Boston, jumping into a race with competitors such as Amazon.com Inc. AMZN 0.13 % to test drone delivery inside the U.S. The delivery of an inhaler on Thursday was conducted in partnership with CyPhy Works, a drone maker in which UPS holds a stake. The delivery kicks off a wider test by UPS of using drones for commercial deliveries to remote or difficult-to-access areas. "UPS has a history of trying to take a look at new technologies as they evolve," said Chuck Holland, a vice president of industrial engineering. "We're looking at this in steps," he added, declining to say whether the company may someday use drones more broadly.