Feds Give Google Permission to Begin Testing Delivery Drones

The Federal Aviation Administration has given Google the green light on Tuesday to begin testing delivery drones within the U.S.

Google’s sister division, dubbed X, now has permission to conduct drone testing below 400 feet at six approved test locations, according to Engadget.

This new initiative is part of a broader push by the White House to spur businesses to use drone delivery systems, and bolster the drone industry, Fortune Magazine reported.

Until this recent move, the FAA has been cautious about drone testing outside of the line-of-sight of a human pilot.

The new White House-sanctioned research study is called Project Wing, and hopes to fully realize how drone delivery services could be integrated into public airspace safely, according to Fortune.

Unlike Amazon’s helicopter-like drones, the drones used by GoogleX take off vertically, but are flown like a fixed-wing aircraft — allowing them an increased range and cargo carrying capacity, Engadget reported.

In addition to relaxing strict drone regulations, the federal government also announced that it’s investing $35 million to the National Science Foundation for various projects that will test the effectiveness of drones for disaster response, storm chasing, and routine inspections.

The White House also wants the FAA to be able to put together a final statement about drone safety in winter of 2016, and enlisted the help of NASA to build improved navigation systems, Engadget reported.

Among US government entities, the Department of the Interior is planning on using drones in search and rescue missions, as well as an alternative to conventional cargo aircraft.

Online retailers are currently scrambling to get their fleets of delivery drones up and running. But, before this can happen, a large-scale air traffic control system must be developed, according to The Next Web.

Google plans to launch its Project Wing commercially in 2017, according to Engadget.