Google X hopes to start drone deliveries in 2017

David Vos, the leader of Google X’s Project Wing programme, told a convention of aircraft controllers in Washington, D.C. this week that his company hopes to operating a delivery service with its Wing vehicles by 2017. Speaking at the ATCA annual conference yesterday (Monday, 2 November), Vos did not reveal details what type of drones Google might use for the service nor what type of packages they will be delivering. However, the 2017 timeline sparked plenty of interest.

Google X later issued a statement to US-based specialist media confirming the comments, but it noted that the 2017 date was a hope rather than a pledge.

As previously reported, Google X – and indeed all companies looking to make a foray into commercial drone usage – will have to waiting until the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) publishes its rules and guidelines before they can put their plans into action.