CVS and Walgreens have been using delivery drones. So has Uber. Now Kroger has federal approval to unleash them into American skies.
From Ars Technica:
Kroger will begin drone deliveries in Ohio this week
The FAA has finally started allowing commercial flights beyond the line of sight.
Kroger, one of America’s biggest grocery chains, is beginning to test a drone-delivery service near Dayton, OH. Starting this week, Kroger will begin testing deliveries near the company’s store in Centerville, Ohio.
“Customer deliveries are scheduled to begin later this spring, and a second pilot is scheduled to launch this summer at a Ralphs store in California,” according to Kroger’s announcement.
The Federal Aviation Administration has permitted commercial use of drones for several years. But until recently, regulations required the drones to be within the line of sight of the operator. That wasn’t a big deal for aerial photography, but it made drones useless for a retail delivery service.
It’s only in the last year or so that the FAA has begun approving commercial use of drones that fly beyond the operator’s line of sight.
Since 2017 there have been numerous expert warnings about potentially catastrophic 5G interference with commercial and military aviation (see 1, 2, 3). Despite this and other warnings and widespread opposition, 5G continues to be deployed throughout the U.S (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Fingers crossed it won’t cause any issues with these or any other delivery drones.
Article: Kroger will begin drone deliveries this week