Walmart Wants to Test Drone Delivery
Walmart has become the latest U.S. retailer to ask for permission to test drones for making deliveries to customers in its parking lots and at customers' homes.
The company applied to theFederal Aviation Administration for an exemption from current regulations recently, according to USA Today. Walmart has tested drones inside its facilities but now wants to do outdoor tests. To do that, it needs FAA permission to operate "small unmanned aircraft systems."
Walmart said it also wants to test drones for grocery pickup service, according to Philly.com. It recently expanded online food orders, which consumers pick up, to 23 markets, with plans to add 20 more markets next year. The test flights would confirm whether a drone could deliver a package to a customer's front door, reads the FAA application submitted on Oct. 26.
"We've been testing aerial drones indoors for several months and made the decision to move forward on additional testing," Brian Nick, senior director of communications, said in a statement.
"A unique aspect to our company," he said, "is that there is a Wal-Mart within five miles of 70 percent of the U.S. population, which creates some interesting possibilities for serving customers with drones."
Click here to read "Flying off the Shelves."
Click here to read "Walmart wants Amazon-like delivery drones."
The company applied to the
Walmart said it also wants to test drones for grocery pickup service, according to Philly.com. It recently expanded online food orders, which consumers pick up, to 23 markets, with plans to add 20 more markets next year. The test flights would confirm whether a drone could deliver a package to a customer's front door, reads the FAA application submitted on Oct. 26.
"We've been testing aerial drones indoors for several months and made the decision to move forward on additional testing," Brian Nick, senior director of communications, said in a statement.
"A unique aspect to our company," he said, "is that there is a Wal-Mart within five miles of 70 percent of the U.S. population, which creates some interesting possibilities for serving customers with drones."
Click here to read "Flying off the Shelves."
Click here to read "Walmart wants Amazon-like delivery drones."