Testing No-Fly Drones for Deliveries in D.C.

What to Know

  • Remote aircraft are not allowed to fly anywhere in the district.
  • It is the first time ground drones, which look like picnic coolers on wheels, have been approved for testing anywhere in the United States.
  • The recipient of the deliver would open the box using a code received through the delivery service’s app.

Due to security concerns and restrictions, Washington, D.C. is not a welcome place for drones. Remote aircraft are not allowed to fly anywhere in the district.

The D.C. Council just gave the OK for one company to test drones that operate on the ground to deliver packages. It is the first time ground drones, which look like picnic coolers on wheels, have been approved for testing anywhere in the United States, according to Starship Technologies, the makers of the ground drones.

According to the company, the recipient of the deliver would open the box using a code received through the delivery service’s app. For D.C. residents who have had packages stolen from their front door when they weren’t home, it is an intriguing concept of on-demand delivery.

“That’s really cool,” said one resident. “I’m excited about that.”

“These new delivery ideas are wonderful,” said another resident. “If it works, I’m all for it.”

“I know that the drones have been coming,” said one man. “The aerial ones have been controversial.”

Starship Technologies brought a prototype to the Nation’s Capital for a demonstration last spring. The pilot program runs from September to December to give the manufacturer the chance to work out concerns about things like vandalism.

The test phase limits delivery companies to only five ground drone robots.

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