Drone Delivery Revolution: Wing Takes Over Aussie Skies

Imagine having your lunch or an urgent grocery item swiftly delivered to your doorstep by a drone. This once futuristic vision is now a reality in parts of Australia, thanks to Google's drone delivery company, Wing. Since establishing its drone “nests” in Crestmead and Marsden, Queensland in 2019, Wing has broadened its reach around Logan City, and, more recently, in Ipswich, partnering with businesses such as Coles and Doordash.

Simon Rossi, Wing's Australia Managing Director, revealed that customers simply order items via an app and then wait for the drone to make the drop. The company has reportedly already completed over 300,000 global deliveries, the majority in Australia, making South Queensland the ‘drone delivery capital of the world.'

Yet, don't expect Wing's drones to dominate big city skies or rural landscapes anytime soon. “We will be really focusing on that suburban area around cities,” Rossi explained, highlighting the constraints of urban density and rural sparsity. He also cautioned about the time-intensive nature of setting up new nests and navigating the associated regulatory and approval processes.

Wing's drones, weighing 10 pounds and designed to deliver items up to 2.7 pounds, are suitable for transporting anything small. Rossi suggested that items could range from a single meal to a forgotten grocery ingredient or urgently needed staples like bread or milk.

Rossi clarified Wing's mission, saying they're not trying to replace traditional postal or truck delivery services. Instead, Wing positions itself as a faster, cheaper, safer, and greener solution for delivering small items to nearby customers.

The process is straightforward. Once an order is placed, Wing's network plots a safe course to the delivery address. The drone, flying at about 200 feet above ground, reaches speeds of around 65 mph. To ensure safety, a 20-foot retractable cable is used for package collection and drop-off.

Wing's vision is to expand the network of nests for increased range and efficiency. Rossi predicts a “network effect” where drones can deliver, recharge, and collect items from different points.

So, the next time you forget an ingredient for dinner, a drone might just be your quickest solution.

Photos courtesy of Wing.