Walmart to check drone delivery of grocery, home items in battle with Amazon

Walmart to check drone delivery of grocery, home items in battle with Amazon
Walmart said on Wednesday it might run a pilot program for delivery of grocery and household products through automated drones, along side end-to-end delivery firm Flytrex, as the U.S. retailer looks to strengthen its delivery business.

Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart said the test would start on Wednesday in Fayetteville, North Carolina, with cloud-controlled drones learning and dropping off select items.

“We know that it’ll be a while before we see many packages delivered via drone. that also seems like a touch of fantasy ,” Tom Ward, senior vice-president, customer products, said during a statement.

The company has accelerated the expansion of its pick-up and delivery services within the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, as virus-wary consumers increasingly prefer having items delivered at their doorsteps.

Walmart, whose U.S. online sales doubled within the second quarter, has previously partnered with Ford Motor Co and self-driving vehicle startups Gatik and Nuro to explore delivery through autonomous vehicles.

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