We’ve Been Hearing About Drone Delivery for Years. So Where Are All Those Drones?
Amazon promised the autonomous transport was coming, but it’s not yet a reality for the ecommerce giant
Key insights:
- Expect more drone trials this year.
- The biggest challenge is regulatory approval.
- The FAA’s proposed rule for remote identification could pave the way for more deliveries.
It was nearly four years ago when 7-Eleven announced it completed the first autonomous drone delivery in the U.S. A few months later, Amazon’s Prime Air completed its first drone delivery in England. And while Amazon executive Jeff Wilke said he expected drone deliveries in the U.S. “within months” of June 2019, we’re still not there.
This story first appeared in the March 9, 2020, issue of Adweek magazine. Click here to subscribe.
