I saw a drone deliver pies in Atlanta, and it was an uncannily brilliant experience

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Walmart and Wing launched service in the metro Atlanta area.
• Customers can order items from Walmart and have them delivered via Wing drone.
• The drone can carry up to 5 pounds.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane — actually, it’s a Wing delivery drone, and it’s carrying your neighbor’s last-minute grocery item from the nearby Walmart. 

Wing, an independent company under Alphabet (Google’s parent company), began service in metropolitan Atlanta early December, in partnership with Walmart. The metro Atlanta area is the first US metropolitan area to receive service outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area, as Wing attempts to lead the ongoing drone delivery service race.

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Amazon, UPS, FedEx, and DoorDash are all exploring drone delivery services, with companies like Wing supplying drones to major retailers like Walmart. Wing offers its styrofoam and carbon fiber-made drones to participating Walmart Supercenters, and the Wing app houses all of the delivery settings.

How does it work?

Wing sets up a group of drones called a “nest” in the back of Walmart’s parking lot. Workers pack small cardboard boxes with a customer’s order, and place the package in a designated area for the drone to hover over. Then, it releases a tether to retrieve the package from the ground, retracts its tether with the package, and begins its flight to the customer’s house — provided their house is within six miles of the store.

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Once an order is placed within the Wing app, the company’s automated system creates the drone’s route, and the drone should complete the delivery in close to 15 minutes. Most of that time is spent fulfilling the order, and the drone spends around five minutes in flight. 

Wing’s drones fly beyond the visual line of sight, meaning there is no human steering the drone or creating its routes. However, Wing said that a certified pilot stays in a control room, overseeing the general operations of up to 32 drones at a time, monitoring low airspace traffic and weather in the area.

When the Wing drone is closer to the ground, it sounds like an irritated wasp nest, but certainly quieter than a lawnmower or leafblower. If I were inside watching TV while a drone was delivering to my front yard, there’s a high chance I wouldn’t hear it. 

Wing’s drones, made from foam, plastic, and carbon fiber, can carry a small load that maxes out at around five pounds. If your Walmart order consists of a rotisserie chicken and a pack of Skittles, you should be all set. If you’re ordering a TV or even a few days’ worth of groceries, expect to see a delivery driver.

According to Wing, the delivery drones reach a max altitude of 150 feet and a top speed of 65 miles per hour. Greg Cathey, Walmart’s senior vice president of digital fulfillment, told me that these drones are ideal for customers who are pinched for time and either forgot an item during their Walmart run or need an item urgently. He cited diapers, wipes, pet items, and medication as frequently drone-delivered items.

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“What we see is [that] consumers love this service. When you need something, you want it quickly,” he said. “So, we see customers adopting this, and not only are they adopting it, but they’re repeat users.”

Are they safe?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded Wing a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate in 2019, which enables the company to operate commercial drones for delivery services. A recently proposed rule by the FAA and the Department of Transportation eases the path to clearing certifications, waivers, and permits to operate drones beyond the visual line of sight, allowing companies like Wing to expand to more cities more rapidly.

Companies will still need to apply for a special permit, and operations must take place in areas with less densely populated areas. It’s essential to note that these drones do not operate within Atlanta’s city limits; the closest participating Walmart Supercenter is located 26 miles from Atlanta’s city center.

Regulation is just one of several issues, including privacy concerns and community buy-in, that have slowed progress for retailers over the years. 

Still, Wing promises that its drones are safe to operate in approved areas. The drones’ lightweight frame allows them to break apart if they run into an object, and they halt service if weather conditions are too hazardous. 

When will it be available in my area?

Considering the distance of participating Walmarts from Atlanta and the regulatory statutes in place, receiving your order via drone to your downtown, high-rise apartment is unlikely — at least for now. However, the unlikelihood could make for more efficient deliveries for ground delivery drivers, according to Marty Bauer, Director of Sales and Partnerships at Omnisend, an e-commerce expert.

“Imagine using this [service] when you come back from a store and realize you forgot something, especially if you live further from a store or have limited mobility,” he said. “For drivers, that just means less time consumed delivering frequent but low-value orders.”

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Although apartment complexes in crowded cities might not currently be the most economical market for companies like Wing, metropolitan areas in the South with lower population density and rapid development make suburbia a great place to start. Wing’s next moves include expanding to the Charlotte, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa areas, with delivery availability promised in the upcoming year.

If you’re enjoying your morning coffee on the porch and hear a sudden, medium-pitched hum that’s gone as quickly as it arrived, look up — it could be your neighbor expecting a Wing drone.