INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Wing said its drones use a dual-propulsion system that includes vertical lift motors for takeoff and landing, and separate cruise motors for
| Source: WingWalmart Inc., with the help of Wing Aviation LLC, last week said it is taking its drone delivery service to five new cities:
Atlanta; Charlotte, N.C.; Houston; Orlando; and Tampa, Fla
The company said the rapid expansion reinforces its leadership in tech-enabled retail.“As we look ahead, drone delivery will remain a key
part of our commitment to redefining retail,” stated Greg Cathey, senior vice president of Walmart U.S
Transformation and Innovation
“We’re pushing the boundaries of convenience to better serve our customers, making shopping faster and easier than ever
before.”“This expansion of our drone delivery service marks a significant milestone in that journey,” he added
“As the first retailer to scale drone delivery, Walmart is once again demonstrating its commitment to leveraging technology to enhance our
delivery offerings with a focus on speed.”Walmart expects drone deliveries to accelerateSince launching drone delivery in 2021, Walmart
claimed it has completed more than 150,000 deliveries within minutes
With the expansion, the company said it is set to offer thousands of products delivered directly to customers’ doors in 30 minutes or
less.Walmart said customers are using drone delivery for key ingredients they may have forgotten during their weekly grocery trip or for
urgent care items, such as over-the-counter cold/flu medicine, baby formula, and COVID-19 tests
Some of the most frequently delivered products include fresh fruit, eggs, ice cream, and pet food.The new drone service will launch at 100
stores, building on existing operations in Northwest Arkansas and Dallas-Fort Worth
Through an agreement with established drone providers, Walmart said it can deliver a faster, more efficient service to even more
customers.Wing operates within U.S
Federal Aviation Administration guidelines, flying its drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) up to a 6 mi
(9.6 km) from the stores.“This is real drone delivery at scale,” said Adam Woodworth, CEO of Wing
“People all around the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have made drone delivery part of their normal shopping habits over the past year
Now we’re excited to share this ultra-fast delivery experience with millions more people across many more U.S
cities.”Wing and drone delivery take off with the help of big partnersWalmart isn’t the only company working with Wing for drone
In December, Wing partnered with DoorDash and Brookfield Properties to bring drone delivery to local malls in the Dallas-Fort Worth
Launching at Brookfield Properties’ Stonebriar Centre in Frisco and Hulen Mall in Fort Worth, the service is the first of its kind for
American shopping malls, claimed the companies.The Alphabet subsidiary maintains a fleet of lightweight drones that can transport small
packages directly from businesses to homes in minutes
Wing has been operating in the U.S
for the past five years, and it said it has completed more than 400,000 commercial deliveries worldwide.The Mountain View, Calif.-based
company asserted that its systems are safe, sustainable, and easy to integrate into existing delivery and logistics networks.Walmart is also
working with multiple drone providers
Earlier this year, Ziplinelaunched its first-ever P2 drone site at Walmart stores in Mesquite and Waxahachie, Texas, offering a delivery
experience that’s quieter than the average delivery truck, it claimed.Now accepting session submissions!The post Walmart, Wing launch
drone delivery in 5 more cities appeared first on The Robot Report.
