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The first time you see it, you’ll probably rub your eyes in disbelief. The next time it happens, you’ll probably just accept the fact that we now live in a world where deliveries literally drop out of the sky and onto someone’s front porch, pool deck (and sometimes, right into the pool) or office entryway.
Just a few years ago this sounded like something out of a sci-fi novel, but drone delivery is now coming on strong and may soon show up in your town.
Credit AI with speeding up some of the advancement on the drone side, where Sairone says the concept of drone delivery has “evolved rapidly from a futuristic vision to a tangible reality in recent years.” Early drone delivery experiments focused on demonstrating the feasibility of using drones for transporting small items, it says, but improvements in battery life, flight control systems and payload capacity have all helped advance commercial drone delivery.
“The integration of AI [unlocks] the full potential of drone delivery systems,” Sairone explains. “AI empowers drones with advanced capabilities that enable them to operate autonomously, navigate complex environments, and make intelligent decisions in real-time.”
Lowe’s Rises Up
Last month, Lowe’s threw its hat into the delivery drone ring and announced a new autonomous, aerial fulfillment method for a select number of home improvement items. And with that, the big box retailer became the first in its sector to offer drone delivery. Lowe’s says it’s delivering the goods directly to DIY and Pro customers in as fast as 20 minutes from a store in Matthews, N.C.
This new offering leverages Wing and DoorDash’s existing drone delivery operations in the Charlotte area. Lowe’s says the initial pilot spans a curated list of eligible products, including hand tools and paint products, plus everyday household items such as soap, tape, all-purpose cleaner and batteries.
“By piloting drone delivery, we’re addressing a real project pain point with an innovative solution that is integrated into the retail journey, giving our hometown customers next-generation fulfillment right when they need it,” Seemantini Godbole, CIO and AI officer, said in a press release.
More Companies Are Jumping In
Not to be outdone, companies like Amazon, Walmart and Uber are also making fast tracks into the drone delivery area. Walmart is working with Wing to expand its drone delivery footprint into 20 U.S. markets, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Atlanta.
“Our work with Walmart has shown that drone delivery isn’t just a novelty, it’s a service many customers count on multiple times per week,” Wing’s Heather Rivera said in an announcement. “We’re already working with many communities in the seven new markets, as we accelerate our progress to bring ultra-fast delivery to 40 million residents throughout the U.S."
Wing says its drones fly at speeds up to 60 mph and use a tether to gently lower packages directly to a customer’s yard or driveway in as fast as 30 min. Before launching in each new city, Wing and Walmart work with local leaders and community members to educate them on the process, the safety and the mechanics of drone deliveries.
Food delivery has also gone airborne. According to Uber, the company is partnering with Zipline to deliver orders via the latter’s autonomous drone delivery. The partnership brings Zipline’s delivery system to Uber Eats customers and small businesses.
“Teleportation isn’t science fiction anymore. It’s becoming part of everyday life,” said Zipline’s Keller Cliffton, in a press release. “Every great transportation revolution has changed where people live, how businesses operate, and how economies grow.”
More Oversight Please
Not everyone has been quick to jump on board with the idea of drone delivery coming to their town. According to Commercial UAV News, 15 states sued the FAA over a drone delivery environmental review last month. The states are challenging the agency's review of the environmental impact of commercial drone package delivery.
“The suit, which was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, is centered on the FAA's Programmatic Environmental Assessment for drone package delivery operations in the United States,” the publication explains. “For applications that fall within its scope, the assessment allows the agency to approve new delivery markets without a separate environmental assessment for each one.”
The lawsuit followed a comment letter calling for a full programmatic environmental impact statement and site-specific analysis for individual drone hubs. “The FAA, which received 241 comment submissions, instead completed the programmatic assessment,” Commercial UAV News reports, noting that the key concerns include “aircraft noise, lithium-ion battery fires, hazardous materials, and the cumulative effects of repeated drone flights.”
