Overview
At least once each summer we're lying spread-eagled under a fan, too hot to move and wishing there was a way to retrieve an iced treat without having to step out in the 42-degree heat. These days there are a lot of services that could deliver you a box of Icy Poles or a tub of Messina, but 7-Eleven have just completed the ultimate hot-day delivery — they delivered a Slurpee to a customer in Reno, Nevada by drone.
This is pretty big news because not only is it absolutely heaven-sent to see a Slurpee coming at you slowly from the sky, but it's also the first completed drone delivery to a customer's home in the United States. The convenience store retail chain teamed up with local drone developers Flirtey to make the delivery, which comprised of Slurpees, a chicken sandwich, doughnuts, coffee and lollies. Solid haul.
The drone delivery system in something that 7-Eleven hope to roll out across the world, but with new rules that will allow the operation of small drones coming into effect in the US next month, it looks like that's where they'll start. It means that the company could potentially start delivering goods to those who can't easily leave the house or need items urgently.
It's been a big week on the drone delivery front. Over in the UK, Amazon just got approval from the government to start testing their drone delivery service after they decided to lift some strict flying restrictions. The test runs — which, up until now, have been done only in rural areas — will start immediately, and could deliver small packages to people in as little as 30 minutes.
As for here at home, Australia Post is currently in the process of trialling drone technology for small parcel delivery. So we might see Slurpees in the sky sooner than you think.
Via TechCrunch and The Telegraph.