Drone-delivery specialist Wing recently claimed to have successfully finished over 100,000 drone deliveries since the launch of its trial services. These deliveries were made in many regions across the globe in September 2019.
Now, the Alphabet-owned firm has taken the wraps off a new aircraft that is used to make those deliveries, with key personnel offering their thoughts on how the ambitious project is shaping up. As of now, Wing makes use of two aircraft designs for its drone-delivery services. The first packs 12 hover motors and two cruise motors to make it faster for the two aircraft, while the second design features four cruise motors and a slightly longer wing.
Deliveries up to six miles away
Combining hover and cruise motors enables the aircraft to perform greater maneuvers and achieve higher speeds, making it ideal for urban environments. The delivery process begins when a customer orders an item such as food using a smartphone app. Wing’s drone depot then deploys one of its autonomous drones and attaches the ordered item to the aircraft. Once the item is attached the drone flies off to the destination no more than six miles away.
After reaching the destination, the customer will receive an alert on their phone to receive the item. With the drone hovering overhead, the tether unwinds and sets the item on the ground so the buyer can collect it.
Local authorities nod required for expansion
The company is currently operating its service from a few locations, including Christiansburg, Virginia, and Canberra, Australia. Expansion of the business means convincing local regulators that its aircraft are safe to fly over people.
“When you’re flying close to people, it means that you need to have a certain level of reliability to make the system safe,” Giulia Pantalone, a Wing aerospace engineer, said. “Safety is our number one priority,” he added. Another member of the team said this method of delivering can also help cut down pollution by taking vehicles off road. The video also shows how the service grew during the coronavirus pandemic, with no-contact deliveries going to customers sheltering at home.
