Drones at the Doorstep

摘要

THE JETSOWS-ESQUE DREAM of on-demand commercial delivery took a step closer last October 18, when three Wing 7000 delivery drones departed their "nest" established in a Christiansburg, Virginia parking lot. The first to arrive at its destination-after traveling 2.32 miles in two minutes, 50 seconds-was airframe A1229 with delivery of a FedEx-shipped winter vest to Paul and Susie Sensemeier. Like most drones, it was remotely piloted (or more accurately, monitored) by a human. Wing's control center has the capability for an operator to control up to 15 drones simultaneously. The National Air and Space Museum has just accepted the donation of A1229 from Wine, one of Alphabet's companies.