Google’s delivery drone. Image: Wing by Google
[T]he citizens of Canberra, Australia, are—willingly or unwillingly—the test subjects of the first real-life drone food delivery service trial. The trial is being performed by Wing, which is a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet. From 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. daily, Canberra residents who live within the 5 Km radius of the trial zone are able to order, via an app, fresh-made food and cups of coffee from Guzman y Gomez taqueria, as well as other small items, to be delivered to their doorsteps. The drones are able to travel at speeds of up to 85 miles per hour and deliver items within 10 minutes of send-off. When delivered, packages are reeled down to the ground from drones hovering 23 feet above the ground.
Some residents have complained about the drone’s noisy flying and wildlife behavior, as well as the privacy risk. Nevertheless, starting in 2019, Wing will initiate a trial commercial service in the Australian Capital Territory, as reported by Xinhua News.
