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Wing Aviation LLC has announced a new collaboration with DoorDash and Brookfield Properties to introduce drone delivery services to shopping malls in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This innovative service will launch at the Stonebriar Centre in Frisco and Hulen Mall in Fort Worth, marking what the companies describe as a pioneering effort in U.S. shopping malls.
Starting today, customers located in eligible areas within Dallas-Fort Worth who place qualifying orders through the DoorDash app will have the option to select drone delivery at checkout. Upon selecting this option, their orders will be prepared and packaged for delivery via a Wing drone.
Wing has noted that over 50 merchants will participate in this drone delivery initiative. Their advanced drones are designed to efficiently deliver items and meals within a mere 15 minutes, traveling at speeds of up to 65 mph and flying at altitudes around 150 feet before safely depositing the deliveries at customers’ doorsteps.
Wing Expands Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight Operations in the U.S.
As a subsidiary of Alphabet, Wing operates a fleet of lightweight drones capable of transporting small packages quickly. Having been active in the U.S. for five years, the company has conducted over 400,000 commercial deliveries globally. Wing emphasizes that its delivery systems prioritize safety, sustainability, and seamless integration into existing logistics frameworks.
In a recent development, Wing has partnered with Serve Robotics Inc., a firm specializing in mobile robot deliveries. As part of this collaboration, a Serve robot will collect orders and transport them to a Wing drone AutoLoader for aerial delivery, extending the service reach to up to six miles.
Significantly, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Wing and Zipline permission to conduct beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights over Dallas. Wing obtained its Air Carrier Certification from the FAA in 2019, allowing it to roll out a commercial drone service for delivering goods from local businesses to residences across the U.S.
This recent expansion empowers Wing to continue its BVLOS operations without visual observers, a practice already established in their operations in Australia and Ireland.
DoorDash’s Focus on Convenience and Speed
Wing’s alliance with DoorDash is rooted in a mutual aim to enhance customer convenience and expedite the delivery of local products and services. This development comes on the heels of successful pilot programs in Melbourne, Australia, and Christiansburg, Virginia.
Working alongside Brookfield Properties, the firms are exploring ways to utilize drone delivery within their shopping centers. Brookfield aims to optimize underutilized spaces, such as rooftops and surplus parking areas, enabling businesses to reach a broader customer base with drone delivery.
“As the first landlord to offer drone delivery, we’re eager to provide our tenants with innovative solutions to meet community needs,” stated Katie Kurtz, senior vice president of business development at Brookfield Properties. “Our commitment to evolving retail logistics is fundamental as shopping habits continue to change.”
Source
www.therobotreport.com