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Google Wing launches first commercial drone delivery service | Google Wing launches first commercial drone delivery service |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The world's first consumer drone delivery service has been launched in Australia, after years of test flights. | |
Wing, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, will deliver takeaway food, coffee and medicines by drone to about 100 homes in Canberra. | Wing, owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, will deliver takeaway food, coffee and medicines by drone to about 100 homes in Canberra. |
It has been testing its drones in Australia since 2014 but many residents had complained about the noise. | It has been testing its drones in Australia since 2014 but many residents had complained about the noise. |
Wing said the feedback obtained during its trials had been "valuable" and it hoped to "continue the dialogue". | Wing said the feedback obtained during its trials had been "valuable" and it hoped to "continue the dialogue". |
Australia's aviation authority gave Wing permission to launch a commercial service after examining its safety record and operational plans. | Australia's aviation authority gave Wing permission to launch a commercial service after examining its safety record and operational plans. |
It judged that the company posed no risk to residents or other aircraft. | It judged that the company posed no risk to residents or other aircraft. |
Wing's drones deliver small packages which are lowered into the customer's garden on a length of string. | Wing's drones deliver small packages which are lowered into the customer's garden on a length of string. |
However, the approval has several conditions attached. The drones will only be allowed to fly during the day and not before 08:00 AEST at the weekend. | However, the approval has several conditions attached. The drones will only be allowed to fly during the day and not before 08:00 AEST at the weekend. |
They will not be allowed to fly over crowds or main roads. | They will not be allowed to fly over crowds or main roads. |
Trials of the drones had attracted complaints from residents in Bonython, Canberra, who said they were noisy and intrusive. | Trials of the drones had attracted complaints from residents in Bonython, Canberra, who said they were noisy and intrusive. |
The Bonython Against Drones campaign said the devices could be heard from "a long way off, both coming and leaving". | The Bonython Against Drones campaign said the devices could be heard from "a long way off, both coming and leaving". |
"When they do a delivery drop they hover over the site and it sounds like an extremely loud, squealing vacuum cleaner," the group said on its website. | "When they do a delivery drop they hover over the site and it sounds like an extremely loud, squealing vacuum cleaner," the group said on its website. |
In response, Wing said it had developed a quieter drone. The aviation authority says Wing must use this quieter drone for its commercial service. | In response, Wing said it had developed a quieter drone. The aviation authority says Wing must use this quieter drone for its commercial service. |