Walmart and the tech company Wing launched their first drone delivery service in Florida this Wednesday, an initiative that will allow thousands of customers to receive products at their homes in 30 minutes or less.
The program debuted operations from two Walmart Supercenter stores in the Orlando metropolitan area: one located in Apopka at 1700 South Orange Blossom Trail, and another in Clermont. Together, they will serve over 50,000 homes, businesses, and apartment complexes. The company plans to expand the service in the coming weeks with three new locations in Ocoee, Clermont, and Haines City, reported Click Orlando.
The delivery process is completely automated. An employee prepares the order and transports it to the operations center, where it is attached to the drone by a cable. From that moment on, the aircraft autonomously calculates the route and flies to the destination.
Upon arrival, the drone hovers at about six meters in height and descends the package using a cable, without the need to land.
Aircraft can reach speeds of up to 96 kilometers per hour and transport products weighing up to 2.5 pounds (approximately 1.1 kilograms).
"What used to be a 30-minute car journey can now be completed in under five minutes by plane for small items. This reduces traffic and saves time," explained Tom Kuhn, global communications director of Wing.
Who can use it?
The service is available to customers who reside within a maximum distance of four to five miles from any of the participating stores.
Orders can be placed through the Wing app or the Walmart app.
The delivery cost is $19.99 for those who are not subscribed to the Walmart+ program, while members of the loyalty service receive deliveries at no extra charge.
During the inaugural event, Wing deployed 18 drones at the Apopka operations center, all set to operate simultaneously in case of high demand.
Technology designed for safe operation
Wing states that the drones incorporate multiple safety systems to minimize risks.
According to Kuhn, the aircraft are made with a lightweight foam similar to that used in bicycle helmets and are equipped with redundant systems capable of detecting any anomalies during flight.
"If something goes wrong, the drone detects it and smoothly descends to the ground in a place where there are no people or cars," he stated.
The climate in Florida, however, poses one of the main challenges for the service.
Wing will suspend operations when weather conditions are not safe.
"If there is a severe storm, if a plane cannot take off from Orlando Airport, we will not carry out deliveries with drones either," Kuhn explained.
Part of a national expansion
The arrival of the service in Florida is part of Walmart's national expansion strategy for delivery via drones.
The company surpasses one million deliveries in May 2026 and currently operates from 66 stores spread across four states.
Its goal is to incorporate an additional 150 establishments and create a network of over 270 locations by 2027, with the capacity to serve more than 40 million Americans.
The launch also coincides with the advancement of other autonomous mobility technologies in Florida. Waymo's robotaxis are already operating in Miami and the southern part of the state has begun to utilize drones for water rescue operations, establishing Florida as one of the leading testing centers for this type of innovation.
"The more communities see it, the more communities will want it," concluded Kuhn while summarizing Wing's expectations for a service that is just beginning its expansion in the state.
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