Walgreens to Launch Drone Delivery in Dallas-Fort Worth with Wing

Walgreens and Wing Launch Drone Delivery Service in Texas

Alphabet has revealed a new partnership with Walgreens to introduce drone delivery services to a select area within the Dallas-Forth Worth region of Texas.

Walgreens will be the inaugural client to utilize a newly developed, expedited drone deployment system from Wing, an Alphabet subsidiary.

Testing and Expansion Plans

Prior to this announcement, Wing conducted extensive drone flight testing at the Hillwoods AllianceTexas Flight Test Center located in Fort Worth.

In the approaching weeks, the company will initiate trial flights within the city of Frisco and the town of Little Elm, both situated in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Further commercial rollout is anticipated in the subsequent months, broadening the service area.

Previous Operations and FAA Collaboration

Alphabet has been actively refining its drone systems in Australia for a considerable period.

Small-scale delivery operations have been ongoing in Christiansburg, Virginia, since 2019.

The company has been collaborating closely with the FAA to secure approvals for expanding service into more populated regions.

A company spokesperson communicated to TechCrunch that the new system allows for flexible deployment options.

Deployment System Details

Initially, drones will launch deliveries directly from the Walgreens parking area.

The innovative system utilizes the drone’s containers as integrated storage and launch facilities, and can also be positioned on rooftops or adjacent to buildings.

Overcoming Operational Challenges

“Previously, this type of delivery service within the United States was largely confined to smaller communities,” stated Alphabet in an official release.

“These areas typically have less congested land use and simpler operational environments.”

Wing’s dependable aircraft, coupled with its sophisticated flight planning and routing technologies, uniquely positions it to deliver a highly automated drone service in more complex and densely populated areas.