Wingthe subsidiary of Alphabet (the company that owns Google), is developing drone delivery technology, which could handle millions of orders within 12 months. Testing has already begun in Australia.
Wing, Google’s drones ready for deliveries
The technology is being tested “on a large scale” in Logan, Australia, where Wing delivers up to 1,000 parcels a day. In addition, the company began test drone deliveries in the Dublin suburb of Lusk.
Wing is also negotiating with the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority to agree regulations to bring drone deliveries to the UK.
Wing’s CEO, Adam Woodworth, says the delivery system will look “more like an efficient data network than a traditional transportation system.” Wing will be doing many deliveries of groceries, prepared food, and coffee.
Currently, consumers pay no extra for drone deliveries. But the company hasn’t yet revealed how much they could cost when fully operational. Also because to be financially sustainable, according to experts, drone companies will have to carry out a large number of daily deliveries.
Wing’s delivery technology involves the use of pad where drones can take off, land and recharge their batteries. But also automatic loaders that allow companies to leave parcels for collection. Using these elements, drones can pick up, drop off, travel and load in whatever scheme makes the most sense for the whole system. Google will then be able to leverage its big data capabilities to coordinate fleets.
The system also provides a high level of automation. Pilots on the ground can then supervise fleets of delivery drones to ensure they are operating safely and efficiently, rather than monitoring an individual drone.
But Wing has faced complaints for the noise of some Logan residents. He’s working on making drones quieter. However, if these drone deliveries were to arrive all over the world, the skies of our cities will change forever.