Commercial Drone Deliveries in the US

A few weeks ago, Alphabet’s drone unit Wing launched the first commercial drone delivery in the United States.

The company is partnering with Walgreens and FedEx, beating out other big competitors like Amazon. Christiansburg, Virginia is one of the first cities among a few more in Virginia that will get to try out food, coffee, and medicine delivery by drone in only a few minutes. Walgreens is officially the first U.S. retailer to air-deliver products to customers directly by drone, and FedEx is the first logistics company to do so.

“Innovation has been part of the FedEx DNA since day one, and we are always looking for new and better ways to deliver the world to our customers’ doorsteps,” said Don Colleran, president and CEO of FedEx Express. “For our customers in Christiansburg, this collaboration will test the latest innovation in the last mile of a residential package delivery. We hope that this latest addition to our delivery options will enhance the last-mile service for urgent same-day deliveries, customers in rural or semirural areas, and other exceptional delivery needs.”

As this technology spreads to more common use, it will be especially beneficial for people who are homebound or have disabilities which make going out more difficult. If the technology develops even further, it could potentially help people who live in more isolated areas get access to more product options.

​Alphabet was the first firm to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, but more companies including Uber and UPS are inching towards securing their own federal approval. The Wing won’t be the only drone available for consumers for much longer!