Wing and Walmart Launch Expanded Houston Drone Delivery Network
Eight new drone hubs more than double Wing’s Houston footprint as service reaches more than one million residents
Wing and Walmart have officially launched the latest phase of their drone delivery expansion in the Houston area, activating eight new drone delivery hubs that more than double Wing’s local network from five to 13 operating “Nests.”
The launch follows Walmart’s announcement in January that Houston would become one of the company’s largest drone delivery markets, and a June announcement outlining plans to expand drone delivery to additional U.S. cities. With the Houston rollout now operational, more than one million area residents can order a broader selection of Walmart everyday essentials for delivery by drone in just minutes.
The expansion also represents another milestone toward Wing’s previously announced goal of bringing drone delivery to 40 million Americans across 270 locations by 2027.
What ordering drone delivery looks like
For eligible customers, ordering a drone delivery begins much like placing any other online order. Residents within the service area can shop through the Walmart app, Walmart.com, or the Wing app and select drone delivery when it is available.
After an order is prepared, store staff load the package onto a Wing aircraft. The drone then flies autonomously at speeds of up to 60 mph while cruising at approximately 150 feet above ground. According to Wing, the average flight to a customer’s home takes less than five minutes.
Rather than landing, the aircraft hovers above the delivery location at roughly 23 feet and lowers the package using a tether. The system is designed to place items gently on the ground while avoiding the need for the aircraft to touch down.
Customers need only a small, unobstructed delivery area about the size of a picnic blanket, free from trees, bushes, or other overhead obstacles.
Aircraft designed for delivery
Wing’s delivery aircraft are custom designed in the United States and combine fixed-wing flight with vertical takeoff and landing capability. After taking off like a helicopter, the aircraft transitions to efficient forward flight like an airplane before returning to a hover for delivery.
The tethered delivery system is engineered to keep packages stable while they are lowered, helping protect fragile items such as eggs, baked goods, and beverages.
Expanding commercial drone delivery
The Houston expansion illustrates how retailers and drone operators are moving beyond pilot programs toward larger-scale commercial operations. By adding eight new hubs to an existing network, Wing and Walmart are increasing both service coverage and delivery capacity in one of the country’s largest metropolitan areas.
As drone delivery networks continue to grow, companies are increasingly focusing not only on expanding geographic reach but also on making the customer experience resemble conventional e-commerce, with familiar ordering through existing retail platforms and rapid fulfillment for everyday household purchases.
Read more:
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Â Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife here.
