Google has been given the green light by the US government to test a delivery drone on a dedicated site. The so-called Project Wing allows the company to demonstrate that drones are safe enough to fly outside a driver's view.
According to US news agency Bloomberg, Google received permission from the White House and aviation regulator Federal Aviation. It will get the chance to demonstrate the safety of the 'Project Wing drone'. In fact, $35 million is set aside for research into the pros and cons of the drones. This money will come from the US National Science Foundation.
Transponders
Project Wing's drones come from Google's lab and will eventually be fitted with small, low-cost transponders. These will allow aircraft and drivers to understand the drone's location from the ground. It would also ensure that drones do not collide with each other.
Regulatory
Project Wing follows shortly after the FAA announced that it would take a more lenient approach to the use of commercial drones. At the time, the aviation authority indicated that drones might be allowed to fly out of sight of drivers, which is a requirement for delivery drones, provided it can be shown to be safe.
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