The use of drones for last-mile deliveries has been slow to take off, but proposed rule changes could soon open the skies to more activity. Drones have been allowed for commercial home deliveries for more than six years, but actual drone delivery service has so far been limited to areas within the direct line of sight of an operator.
The ability to send products, medical supplies and food via aerial vehicles has been around for nearly a decade, but the regulatory framework in the United States has kept the technology in a holding pattern. However, the Federal Aviation Administration is now considering a change that would remove the line-of-sight requirement, allowing for travel over longer distances, according to an Associated Press report. Retailers who have tested order fulfillment with drones expressed enthusiasm about expanding the service to millions of U.S. households, the news outlet noted.
Walmart is one such retailer looking to expand, as the company works with Alphabet-owned drone company Wing to provide deliveries from 18 Walmart stores in the Dallas area. The retailer said it plans to expand that number to 100 locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, Houston, as well as Orlando and Tampa by next summer. The company said data from more than 150,000 drone deliveries has revealed customers most often order ice cream, eggs and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Amazon launched its Prime Air delivery service in College Station, Texas, in 2022, and received an FAA waiver to fly drones beyond line-of-sight last year. The e-commerce giant has since expanded its autonomous delivery operation to suburban Phoenix and plans to further expand in Dallas, San Antonio and Kansas City.
Wing drones carry packages weighing up to 2.5 pounds, and deliveries typically are made one order at a time over a distance of 12 miles round-trip. One pilot can oversee up to 32 drones, said the report. Another drone company, Zipline, says its aerial vehicles can carry up to four pounds and fly 120 miles round-trip. Amazon’s can reportedly carry heavier packages.
A major upside to last-mile drone delivery is the ability to quickly deliver critical health supplies, along with reduced emissions and improved access to goods for rural residents. A major downside is the cost. Sending items by drone currently costs about $13.50 per trip versus $2 for delivery by a traditional vehicle. And while some worry that aerial vehicles may replace human drivers, experts dismiss that concern, saying many of the most popular products are too heavy to deliver by drone.
Some retailers have experienced an overall increase in orders when drone delivery is an option, along with regular delivery, the report said. But not everybody loves the idea of drones increasingly flying around in neighborhoods and cities. Some worry about privacy as cameras are used to navigate, and others have complained about the noise.
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