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Wal-Mart seeks permission to test drones for deliveries and pickups

AFTER several months of conducting indoor tests of small unmanned aircraft systems, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has applied to US regulators for permission to test the drones for the first time outdoors for home delivery, curbside pickup and checking warehouse inventories.

Walmart plans to use drones manufactured by China's SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd, reported Reuters.

Aside from having drones take inventory of trailers outside its warehouses, Wal-Mart is asking the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to research drone use in "deliveries to customers at Walmart facilities, as well as to consumer homes," the company said in its application.

The testing of the drones comes amid expectations that the FAA will soon establish rules for their widespread commercial use. FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker said in June that the agency expected to finalise regulations within the next 12 months.

The FAA will review Wal-Mart's petition to determine whether it is similar enough to earlier successful applications to be fast-tracked, or whether it would set a precedent for exemptions, requiring regulators to conduct a detailed risk analysis and seek public comment, according to agency spokesman Les Dorr.

Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Toporek said the company would move quickly to deploy drones depending on its tests and regulations.

"Drones have a lot of potential to further connect our vast network of stores, distribution centres, fulfillment centres and transportation fleet," Mr Toporek was quoted as saying. "There is a Walmart within five miles of 70 per cent of the US population, which creates some unique and interesting possibilities for serving customers with drones."

The retailer also wants to test drones for its grocery pickup service. The test flights would confirm whether a drone could deliver a package to a pick-up point in the parking lot of a store, the application said.