Delivery drones are impressively quick, capable of whisking a pint of ice cream right to a customer’s driveway before it has a chance to melt. Yet, despite the promise of this technology, progress in the US has been rather sluggish.
Even after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave the green light for commercial drone deliveries over six years ago, these services have largely remained confined to select suburbs and rural areas.
That might be on the verge of change.
Recently, the FAA put forth new regulations aimed at allowing businesses to operate drones beyond the operator’s line of sight, enabling them to cover greater distances.
Currently, a handful of companies are working within this area, though they often need special exemptions and certification similar to that of airlines to conduct deliveries.
Certifications for retailers and drone firms that have already tested numerous aerial deliveries are geared toward simplifying this process.
Walmart’s multi-stage expansion
Walmart, along with Wing—a drone service owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet—has rolled out delivery service from 18 Walmart locations in the Dallas region.
They’re aiming to expand to 100 stores in cities like Atlanta and Charlotte by next summer.
After launching a significant drone delivery initiative in College Station, Texas in late 2022, Amazon obtained FAA permission last year to operate self-flying drones beyond the sight of their pilots.
This program has since spread to suburbs around Phoenix, with ambitions to launch services in Dallas, San Antonio, and Kansas City.
Though drone delivery has been a concept for over a decade, the path has not been straightforward. Zipline, for instance, began delivering medical supplies to hospitals in Rwanda as early as 2016, while Israel’s Flytrex started delivering to homes in Iceland in 2017.
However, Wing’s CEO Adam Woodworth noted that for years, drone delivery has been in a “waiting mode,” largely due to fears that service providers might struggle to scale up without proper regulatory frameworks.
“We want to be there at the right moment, when customer demand, partner readiness, and regulatory frameworks align,” he said. “I think we’re finally seeing that alignment.”
Flying ice cream and eggs
Companies like Doordash, working with both Wing and Flytrex, have trialed drone deliveries in places like Virginia and Greater Dallas, before announcing plans to expand into Charlotte.
While receiving food via drone may feel like a scene out of a sci-fi movie, it’s already becoming commonplace in places like Brisbane, Australia. Harrison Shih, who oversees Doordash’s drone program, says it feels like a part of daily life there.
Walmart has completed over 150,000 drone deliveries since 2021, with popular items including ice cream, eggs, and peanut butter cups.
Unlike traditional delivery models where a driver might manage a truck full of packages, drones typically handle just a single order at a time.
Wing’s drones can carry up to 2.5 pounds and travel distances up to 12 miles. A single operator can oversee up to 32 drones simultaneously.
Zipline’s drones can handle more weight, up to 4 pounds, and cover 120 miles round trip. Some, like Amazon’s, can carry even heavier items.
Once an order is placed, it’s packaged for flight and loaded onto the drone at the launch site. The drone autonomously navigates, avoiding obstacles, and a pilot monitors its journey, lowering the cargo to the ground with a retractable cord.
Risks and rewards for commercial drones
Shakiba Enayati, an assistant professor at the University of Missouri in St. Louis, is researching how drones can expedite the delivery of critical health supplies, such as organs and blood samples.
She notes that unmanned aerial vehicles can reduce emissions and improve access for rural residents but acknowledges there are hurdles. Currently, traditional delivery methods cost around $13.50 per package, while drone delivery generally incurs similar expenses.
Besides, drones require skilled personnel to manage them and face challenges in certain weather conditions. There’s also the risk of accidents. Enayati believes people are willing to accept these risks because they recognize the benefits of driving, suggesting the same mindset could apply to drones as technology improves.
Woodworth added that the US airspace is heavily regulated, and businesses need to prove to the FAA that their drones are both safe and reliable. Under the new proposed rules, the FAA has set comprehensive requirements for drone operators.
While some fear that drones could replace human drivers, others like Shih are not convinced.
Doordash’s most ordered item is 24-pack cases of water, but as Shih points out, drones likely won’t be carrying hefty items like 40 pounds of dog food.
View from the ground in Texas
Doordash recognizes that in areas with drone delivery, the demand for human deliverers also increases.
Take John Kim, for instance, who owns Pure Pock Restaurant in Frisco, Texas. After signing up with Doordash for drone deliveries last year, he’s noticed a 15% uptick in overall orders, though he’s unsure how many opted specifically for the drone service.
So far, he hasn’t received any complaints about the drone deliveries, describing them as stable and perhaps even better than some drivers handling other orders.
That said, not everyone is a fan. During a public comment request regarding Amazon’s drone delivery expansions in College Station, many residents expressed concerns about privacy, particularly regarding drones equipped with cameras. Despite assurances that the drones only record for navigation, some voiced complaints about the noise, with one person likening it to a “giant mosquito.” In response, Amazon has developed a quieter version of their drone.
On the other hand, some locals, like Janet Toss from Frisco, are thrilled about the service. After witnessing a drone delivery in Korea years ago, she was curious why it wasn’t happening in the US. Now, with Doordash offering drone service in her neighborhood, she’s excited and orders drone deliveries several times a month.
Her daughter, Julep, enjoys showing her friends the drones when they deliver. “I want to go outside, wave to the drone, say ‘Thank you,’ and get some food!” she said.
