Photo: Alphabet / Walmart
‘The program aims to benefit 60,000 households in the area.’
Wing, the aviation subsidiary of Alphabet, has announced a partnership with Walmart to launch drone deliveries from Walmart stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metro area. The service, set to begin in the coming weeks, will initially operate from a Walmart Supercenter in Frisco, TX, with plans to expand to a second location by the end of the year. The coverage area from both stores will encompass approximately 60,000 homes.
Residents living within a six-mile radius of the supported stores will have access to the service, which will offer quick meals, groceries, essentials, and over-the-counter medicines. Wing’s drones are capable of flying up to 65 mph and can deliver items in under 30 minutes. The drones utilize a retractable tether to ensure the safe delivery of delicate items, including eggs and frozen treats.
Wing’s drones are primarily automated and remotely monitored. “Wing’s technology allows operators to oversee the system from a remote location, which means pilots won’t need to be stationed at stores or customer homes,” explained Alphabet in a blog post. “The aircraft essentially fly themselves, so each operator is approved to safely oversee many drones at the same time.”
This partnership with Walmart follows Wing’s previous collaboration with Walgreens for drone deliveries in the DFW region. Meanwhile, Walmart’s own DroneUp delivery service has already served approximately four million households in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. However, earlier this year, the retailer reportedly laid off 418 DroneUp employees.
Residents in the DFW metroplex can check their eligibility for Wing’s drone delivery service by installing the Wing Drone Delivery app from the App Store or Google Play. By creating an account and entering their address, users can view whether they are eligible for the service. If the app states “coming soon,” it means the user will be covered as soon as deliveries commence. Wing has also announced plans to add new DFW neighborhoods to its service in the near future.