I saw a drone deliver pancakes in Atlanta, and it was an incredibly cool experience

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Key Takeaways for ZDNET

• Walmart and Wing have launched the service in the metro Atlanta area.
• Customers can order items from Walmart and have them delivered via a Wing drone.
• The drone can hold up to 5 pounds.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane – in fact, it is Drone for wing deliverycarrying your neighbor’s last-minute groceries from your nearby Walmart.

Wing, an independent subsidiary of Alphabet (Google’s parent company), began service in greater Atlanta in early December, in partnership with Walmart. The Atlanta metro area is the first U.S. metropolitan area to receive the service outside of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area, where Wing is trying to lead the ongoing race for drone delivery service.

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Amazon, UPS, FedEx and DoorDash are all exploring drone delivery services, with companies like Wing supplying drones to major retailers like Walmart. Wing delivers its Styrofoam and carbon fiber drones to participating Walmart Supercenters, and the Wing app houses all the delivery settings.

How does it work?

Wing sets up a drone array called a “nest” in the back of a Walmart parking lot. Workers pack small cardboard boxes with the customer’s order, and place the package in a designated area for the drone to fly over. Then, it releases a rope to retrieve the package from the ground, pulls the rope with the package, and begins its journey to the customer’s home — provided their home is within six miles of the store.

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Once an order is placed within the Wing app, the company’s automated system creates a route for the drone, and the drone should complete the delivery in approximately 15 minutes. Most of this time is spent executing the request, and the drone spends about five minutes in flight.

Wing’s drones fly beyond visual line of sight, meaning there is no human guiding the drone or charting its paths. However, a certified pilot remains in the control room, overseeing general operations of up to 32 drones at a time, and monitoring low-level traffic in the airspace and weather in the area, Wing said.

When the Wing drone is closer to the ground, it sounds like an agitated hornet’s nest, but it’s certainly quieter than a lawn mower or leaf blower. If I was inside watching TV while a drone came into my front yard, I probably wouldn’t hear it.

Made of foam, plastic and carbon fiber, Wing’s drones can carry a payload as small as a maximum of about five pounds. If your Walmart order consists of a rotisserie chicken and a package of Skittles, you should be all set. If you’re ordering a TV or even a few days’ worth of groceries, expect to see a delivery driver.

According to Wing, delivery drones reach a maximum altitude of 150 feet and a top speed of 65 miles per hour. Greg Cathy, Walmart’s senior vice president of digital fulfillment, told me these drones are ideal for customers who are short on time and either forgot an item during a Walmart run or need an item urgently. He cited diapers, wipes, pet supplies and medications as items frequently delivered by drones.

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“What we’re seeing is (that) consumers love this service. When you need something, you want it fast,” he said. “So, we see customers adopting this, and not only are they adopting it, they are repeat users.”

Are they safe?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted Wing Part 135 air carrier certification in 2019, which enables the company to operate commercial drones for delivery services. recently FAA proposed rule The Department of Transportation is easing the way to obtain certifications, exemptions and permits to operate drones beyond visual line of sight, allowing companies like Wing to expand to more cities more quickly.

Companies will still need to apply for a special permit, and operations must take place in less populated areas. It is important to note that these drones do not operate within the city limits of Atlanta; The nearest participating Walmart Supercenter is 16 miles from downtown Atlanta.

Regulation is just one of several issues, including concerns about privacy and community acceptance, that have slowed progress for retailers over the years.

However, Wing promises that its drones are safe to operate in approved areas. The drone’s lightweight frame allows it to disintegrate if it hits an object, and to cease service if weather conditions become too dangerous.

When will it be available in my area?

Given participating Walmarts’ distance from Atlanta and applicable regulations, receiving your order via drone to your downtown is unlikely — at least for now. However, the improbability can lead to more efficient deliveries for ground delivery drivers, according to Marty Bauer, director of sales and partnerships at Omnisend, an e-commerce expert.

“Imagine using this (service) when you come back from a store and realize you forgot something, especially if you live far from the store or have limited mobility,” he said. “For drivers, this means less time spent delivering frequent but low-value orders.”

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Although apartment complexes in crowded cities may not currently be the most economical market for companies like Wing, the South’s sparsely populated urban areas and rapid development make the suburbs a great place to start. Wing’s next steps include expansion into the Charlotte, Houston, Orlando and Tampa areas, with the promise of delivery availability next year.

If you’re enjoying your morning coffee on the balcony and hear a sudden, moderate-pitched hum that disappears as quickly as it arrived, look out – your neighbor may be expecting a drone.