Walmart has started the first drone delivery service in the Dallas-area, working with delivery startup DroneUp from 11 stores.
The move is part of the expansion Walmart announced earlier this year that would total 34 sites in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Utah and Virginia. Once the network is completed, the delivery service could reach about four million households. By the end of the year, Walmart said it plans to be able to make drone delivery available in 23 cities in these states by the end of the year.
Delivery options could be Christmas cookies, last-minute meals, presents, parcels and other delivery options. The drone deliveries would be for the same-day delivery in the Dallas-area.
How it works
Those customers living within a mile of the 11 stores will be able to place orders through DroneUp’s website where they can deliver more than 10,000 eligible Walmart items weighing up to 10 lb.
There is no minimum order, and the delivery fee is $3.99.
The drones are operated by a team of certified pilots operating within Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines to manage flight operations. The deliveries are dropped off in the safest location in the home such as the front- or backyard or a driveway.
