Google’s ‘Wing’ Division Begins First-Ever U.S. Consumer Drone Delivery Service

The trial will continue in the coming months, and Wing and MAAP plan to keep working with Christiansburg.

“As exciting as this launch is, what’s going to be most rewarding is seeing how the community responds to this technology as it becomes part of the fabric of everyday life,” said MAAP director Mark Blanks in a statement.

In Wing’s blog post, the company described an ordering scenario in which customers use their services: “Minutes after our customers order from the Wing app from Walgreens or local Virginia retailer Sugar Magnolia, our lightweight aircraft delivers directly to their homes. Similarly, customers can opt in to receive scheduled FedEx Express deliveries by drone. Upon arrival, the aircraft gently lowers the package to a small, designated location in the yard or driveway, before returning to Wing’s “Nest” in North Christiansburg.”

While Wing began testing delivery to suburban homes in Australia over a year ago, this is the first time that a company has performed a wider scale, complete end-to-end delivery solution to the consumer’s doorstep in the U.S.  It’s a significant move as a demonstration of the potential for commercial drone delivery.