Wing delivery network by Wing · The Techno Optimist

Milestones

Next · Rollout across many cities

2027Wing and Walmart plan a network of over 270 drone-delivery stores reaching 40 million Americans (next)

Payload limitsSmall drones carry only a few pounds, so bigger orders need a bigger drone or several trips.

Payload and range fight over the same batterySmall drones carry only a couple of kilos; batteries store about 40 times less energy per kilo than fuel, so heavier parcels or longer trips quickly cut into each other.
Hovering over the drop point is energy-hungryHolding a hover takes several times the power of wing-borne cruise, so the time spent lowering a package on its line is where much of each trip's energy goes.

3 parts

Base

Drones wait on charging pads in a small area at a store; staff load an order into a package that the drone picks up.

Fly

It lifts off with small rotors, then cruises on a fixed wing at up to about 60 mph, tracked by Wing's traffic system.

Drop

Over the yard it hovers high up and lowers the package on a line, then winds it back and flies home to recharge.

8 updates

The team behind Wing delivery network

Wing

Drone delivery, Walmart, DoorDash

Wing, part of Alphabet and born at Google X, runs drone delivery in the US, Australia and elsewhere; its drones lower packages on a rope.

In 2019 it became the first drone company licensed by the FAA as an air carrier (Part 135).
Expanding delivery from Walmart stores across several US cities.
Partners with DoorDash for restaurant and grocery delivery.