Google is quietly testing its drone delivery program in the airspace of the United States and plans to expand these tests in rural areas of California by signing a contract with NASA. The Guardian revealed that it has obtained evidence of the technical details of these drones, indicating they can reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and weigh just under 25 kilograms. The documents also disclose Google's safety plan in case of a communication failure with their operator in the control tower. Currently, the United States has banned commercial drone flights. Last year, Google unveiled its experimental program in this regard, codenamed Project Wing, which featured a video showing a farmer in Australia receiving a food package for his dog delivered by a Google drone. Companies wishing to operate in U.S. airspace must obtain special permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, new evidence suggests that Google, in collaboration with NASA, has circumvented these regulations by flying its drones on private land. NASA enjoys freedoms in its flights within U.S. airspace that private companies do not. The Guardian reports that Google and NASA officials did not respond to their inquiries about the details of this collaboration, but the Guardian has obtained evidence stating that 'Google and NASA will conduct a joint test on U.S. soil... and NASA may issue documentation to permit this test.' The latest project that the Guardian has learned about involves testing the feasibility of using telephone services at low altitudes for automated traffic control. It remains unclear whether telecom service companies will benefit from these tests. While competing companies like Tesla and Facebook are also looking to use drones to advance their activities, Google (now under the parent company Alphabet) is simultaneously advancing various projects where it can utilize drone capabilities: Project Fi, which is set to provide mobile phone service, and the Titan and Loon projects, which are working on providing internet via these aircraft in remote areas. It remains to be seen whether the leak of this news will cause problems for Google.
NASA Collaborates with Google on Drone Delivery Program
Google is testing a drone delivery program in the U.S. and plans to expand it with NASA's help, despite current regulations banning commercial drone flights. This collaboration raises questions about regulatory compliance and the implications for drone technology in the U.S. market.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Google is testing a drone delivery program in the U.S. with NASA's assistance, despite existing regulations that prohibit commercial drone flights. This collaboration raises questions about compliance and the future of drone technology in the market.
- Google's drones can reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and weigh under 25 kilograms.
- The collaboration with NASA may allow Google to conduct tests that would typically require FAA approval.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Drones are increasingly being explored for commercial use, but regulatory hurdles remain significant in many countries, including the U.S. The collaboration between private companies and government agencies is crucial for overcoming these challenges.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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